FCC SEEKS COMMENT ON PROPOSED $100 MILLION CONNECTED CARE PILOT PROGRAM

FCC Proposes $100 Million Connected Care Pilot Telehealth Program
The Commission is seeking comment on a proposed $100 million Connected Care Pilot Program that would support bringing telehealth services directly to low-income patients and veterans

Media Contact:
Mark Wigfield, (202) 418-0509
mark.wigfield@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

FCC SEEKS COMMENT ON PROPOSED $100 MILLION CONNECTED CARE PILOT PROGRAM
Three-Year Pilot Would Bring Telehealth Services to Low-Income Patients, Veterans and Areas Lacking Adequate Health Care
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WASHINGTON, July 10, 2019—The Federal Communications Commission is proposing to establish a three-year, $100 million Connected Care Pilot program that would support bringing telehealth services directly to low-income patients and veterans.

The proposed Connected Care Pilot would provide an 85% discount on connectivity for broadband-enabled telehealth services that connect patients directly to their doctors and are used to treat a wide range of health conditions.  These services can facilitate the effective treatment of chronic conditions outside of the doctor’s office, at significant savings for patients and health care providers.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) adopted by the Commission today seeks comment on testing a new program, using the FCC’s existing Rural Health Care Program authority, that would defray the costs of purchasing broadband Internet access service necessary for providing connected care services directly to low-income patients and veterans.

The NPRM seeks comment on the appropriate budget, duration, and structure of the Pilot, along with other issues, including the following:

· Funding the Pilot program separately so it would have no impact on the budgets of the four existing Universal Service Programs—Lifeline, Rural Health Care, E-Rate, and High-Cost (rural broadband support)
· Who should be eligible to participate in the Pilot, including the types of eligible health care providers and broadband service providers
· Limiting the Pilot program to health care providers serving areas with a shortage of health care professionals or with lower-income residents
· Targeting support toward Tribal lands, rural areas, and veteran populations, for which there are well-documented health care disparities
· Targeting support toward health conditions that have risen to crisis levels or affect significant numbers of Americans, such as opioid dependency, diabetes, heart disease, mental health conditions, and high-risk pregnancy

Data gathered through the Pilot program would be used to analyze the possible benefits that support of broadband service for connected care may bring.

Action by the Commission July 10, 2019 by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 19-64).  Chairman Pai, Commissioners O’Rielly, Carr, Rosenworcel, and Starks approving and issuing separate statements.

WC Docket No. 18-213

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Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / TTY: (888) 835-5322 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).

USA Becomes A Also-Ran Broadband Country - ITIF International Broadband Rankings And How We Could Change.

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ITIF International Broadband Rankings (2008) http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a US-based not-for-profit organisation has published the 2008 ITIF International Broadband Rankings. (PDF)
South Korea (Country Profile PFD) is the top ranked country in the world with 93 percent adoption with average download bandwith of 49.5 Mbps and at a cost per Mbps being US $ 0.37. Read the country profile to find out how they managed it.Japan (Country Profile PDF) leads in both download speed (63.6 Mbps) and lowest cost (US $ 0.13).
Contrary to some analysts and advocates claim, the United States’ broaband ranking has fallen steadily for this decade. The country is now 15th in 30 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries, dropping from 12th position in 2007. The chard belows shows the OECD ranking of the same countries and again USA is #15.
IETF recommend that U.S. policymakers take the following steps:

1. Enact more favorable tax policies to encourage investment in broadband networks, such as accelerated depreciation and exempting broadband services from federal, state, and local taxation.

2. Continue to make more spectrum, including “white spaces,” available for next-generation wireless data networks.

3. Expand the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service Broadband Program and target the program to places that currently do not have non-satellite broadband available.

4. Reform the federal Universal Service Fund program to extend support for rural broadband to all carriers, and consider providing the funding through a reverse auction mechanism.

5. Fund a national program to co-fund state-level broadband support programs, such as Connect Kentucky or North Carolina e-NC Authority.

6. Promote the widespread use of a national, user-generated, Internet-based broadband mapping system that would track location, speed, and price of broadband.

7. State and local governments should take action to make it easier for providers to deploy broadband services, including making it easier to access rights-of-way.

To encourage the growth of consumer demand for broadband, we recommend that U.S. policymakers take these steps:

8. Support initiatives around the nation to encourage broadband usage and digital literacy.

9. Fund a revitalized Technology Opportunities Program, with a particular focus on the development of nationally scalable Web-based projects that address particular social needs, including law enforcement, health care, education, and access for persons with disabilities.

10. Exempt broadband Internet access from federal, state, and local taxes.

11. Support new applications, including putting more public content online, improving e-government, and supporting telework, telemedicine, and online learning programs.