Articles and Blogs

FCC

The FCC Releases Rules for Healthcare Connect Fund and Announces Pilot to Expand Infrastructure Funding to Skilled Nursing Facilities

[01/08/13]

Posted on January 8, 2013 in Health Information Technology

Written by: William A. Dummett

The Federal Communication Commission (“FCC”) released rules governing how it will distribute $150 million annually out of the Healthcare Connect Fund to qualifying health care providers to support the provision of health care services to the rural population.  The Healthcare Connect Fund grows on the experience and lessons learned by the FCC through its... READ MORE

Tags: , , , , , ,

FCC Revises Universal Service Fund to Create Healthcare Connect Fund and Expand Access to Broadband

[12/17/12]

Posted on December 17, 2012 in Health Information Technology

Written by: Michael T. Batt

On December 12, 2012 the FCC approved a report and order expanding the scope of the Universal Service Fund (“USF”).  The $400 million annual fund exists to bring telecommunication services to health care providers for the benefit of persons who reside in rural areas.  The FCC acted to revise the existing USF program by: READ MORE

Tags: , ,

FCC to Promote Expansion of High-Bandwidth Capacity to SNFs

[12/13/12]

Posted on December 13, 2012 in Long-Term Care, Home Health & Hospice

Written by: Bufford, David W.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has just issued a release detailing the establishment of the Healthcare Connect Fund (the “Fund”) to reform and modernize its universal service program for health care.  Recognizing the importance of high-speed data connectedness for quality patient care and burgeoning  health care practices such as telemedicine, the FCC is expanding and reforming its existing Rural Health... READ MORE

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

FCC Seeks Additional Comment on Rural Health Care Connectivity Program

[08/06/12]

Posted on August 6, 2012 in Health Information Technology

Written by: William A. Dummett

In a recent Public Notice the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) seeks to develop a more robust record in the pending Rural Health Care reform rulemaking, particularly with regard to the proposed Broadband Service Program (“BSP”). Through the FCC’s Universal Service Fund Program (“USFP”), the FCC has funded (on an eighty-five percent (85%) basis) infrastructure... READ MORE

Tags: , , ,