Rural Health Care

Rural Health Care Conference Calls Minutes

Conference Call Minutes October 12

The New FCC Pilot Program for Dedicated Broadband Networks

RHCD staff began the call with a short summary of the new FCC Pilot Program for Dedicated Broadband Networks. The FCC has announced the establishment of a pilot program to help public and non-profit health care providers build state and region-wide broadband networks dedicated to the provision of health care services and to connect those networks to Internet2.  The pilot program will fund up to 85% of the costs incurred to deploy state or regional broadband networks dedicated to health care and up to 85% of the costs of connecting the regional and/or statewide networks to Internet2.  [Note: For further information about the new pilot program, click on the following link to read the complete FCC news release.  DOC-267605A1 [PDF, 106 KB]. USAC will also provide more information as it becomes available.]

Close-out of  FY2004

RHC Staff noted that there are still outstanding Form 467 and invoices for FY2004.  Staff called on applicants and service providers to submit these in order to wrap up the funding year.  

Status Report on Fund Years 2005 and 2006

Staff noted RHC has committed approximately $35 million in rural health care support for funding year 2005 and is still not finished.  RHC is still waiting on applicants to submit documentation in order to complete the processing of the FY2005 applications.

As of October 2006, USAC has received over 2,800 Form 465s from Rural Health Care Providers,  of which, close to 90% have been electronically certified.  RHC also mentioned that Funding Commitments have begun for FY2006.

Planning for Fund Year 2007

The Funding Year 2007 application window will open in March 2007.  RHC Staff asked callers for suggestions for the new funding year. 

 


Last modified on 2/14/2008