Rural Health Care Outreach Conference Call (cancelled)
December 12, 2002

The December outreach conference call has been cancelled, however, here is a brief RHCD update:

FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) status :

The latest information available is that an Order in response to the NPRM may be issued in the second quarter of 2003. As we receive further timing information we will make it available.

Funding Year 2003 Window Opening date:

RHCD expects to open the application window in late March 2003. There will be no change in program rules from the Funding Year 2002 rules, as it is not anticipated that an Order will be issued from the FCC by the window opening date. (See item above) There are many administrative changes which RHCD is working on completing prior to the window opening. These are discussed below.

Funding Year 2003 anticipated changes pending FCC approval:

RHCD is actively working on getting FCC approval to post urban rates and eliminate the FCC Form 468. In addition RHCD is working on making information system changes which will allow RHCD to pre-populate all applicant forms if an applicant has applied to RHCD for support in the previous year and making electronic certification a reality for ALL application forms. FCC Form 465 and 467 are currently available for e-certification,

Status of Funding Year 2002 and 200 Funding Committments:

RHCD has procesed over 1,900 packets and has approximately 200 more to process which will close out the Funding Committments for Funding Year 2001. Applicants and telecommunications companies are urged to provide whatever information RHCD needs to complete pending applications as soon as possible. Funding Year 2001 saw the highest number of packets ever submitted and RHCD is projected to issue over $18 million in support, which will be a record amount. Funding Year 2002 Funding Committment Letters continue to flow and nearly $3 million in committments have been issued to date.