Rural Health Care Universal Service Support Mechanism - Proposed Rule

The Federal Communications Commission seeks comment on a package of reforms that would expand the use of broadband to improve the quality and delivery of health care, and addresses each of the major recommendations in the National Broadband Plan regarding the Commission's rural health care program. The Commission proposes three major changes to the rural health care program.

• To create a health infrastructure program that would support up to 85 percent of the construction costs of new or upgraded regional or statewide dedicated broadband networks for health care purposes.
• To create a health broadband services program that would provide 50 percent of the monthly recurring costs for access to broadband services for eligible health care providers.
• To expand the definition of "eligible health care provider'' to include administrative offices, data centers, skilled nursing facilities, and renal dialysis centers.

The Commission also proposes to eliminate the offset contribution rule for the rural health care program, and seeks comment on prioritizing funding requests, and establishing performance measures. Comments on the proposed rule are due on or before September 8, 2010. For more information, click here.