Announcements
April 2, 2026
RHC Connect Outage Due to System Maintenance: April 5, 2026
RHC Connect will be unavailable on Sunday, April 5, 2026, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. ET due to system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use RHC Connect. We apologize for any inconvenience.
April 1, 2026
Last Day to Submit FY2026 Funding Requests!
The Funding Year (FY) 2026 filing window opened on December 1, 2025, and closes today. This means all funding requests (FCC Forms 462 or 466) must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. ET this evening.
The following resources have been posted to the USAC website to assist applicants that are submitting the FCC Form 462 for the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program through the RHC program online application platform, RHC Connect:
The following resources have been posted to the USAC website to assist applicants that are submitting the FCC Form 466 for the Telecommunications (Telecom) Program in RHC Connect:
The RHC Customer Service Center will be open until midnight. Please reach out to them by email at RHC-Assist@usac.org, or by phone at (800)453-1546.
NOTE: Forms that are in draft status are not considered submitted. Each FCC Form 462 and 466 must be signed, certified, and submitted prior to the April 1st deadline to be considered for funding. Learn more about filing windows.
March 27, 2026
RHC Program Inflation-Based Cap Announced for FY2026
The Rural Health Care (RHC) program funding cap for funding year (FY) 2026 is $744,161,841. The internal cap for upfront payments and multi-year commitments under the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program is $187,898,8742. The internal cap for upfront payments and multi-year commitments will apply only if RHC program demand exceeds available funding. These new caps represent a 2.8 percent inflation-adjusted increase to the $723,892,841 RHC program funding cap and the $182,780,877 internal cap on multi-year commitments and upfront payments from FY2025. Read the announcement.
March 25, 2026
One Week Left! RHC Program FY2026 Filing Window Closes on April 1!
The Funding Year (FY) 2026 filing window opened on December 1, 2025, and will close on April 1, 2026. This means all funding requests (FCC Forms 462 or 466) must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on April 1, 2026. The following resources have been posted to the USAC website to assist applicants that are submitting the FCC Form 462 for the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program:
The following resources have been posted to the USAC website to assist applicants that are submitting the FCC Form 466 for the Telecommunications (Telecom):
NOTE: Forms that are in draft status are not considered submitted. Each FCC Form 462 and 466 must be signed, certified, and submitted prior to the April 1st deadline to be considered for funding. Learn more about filing windows.
March 23, 2026
FCC Order DA 24-366 – Directs USAC to Accept Late-Filed Funding Requests
Beginning in funding year (FY) 2024, the FCC directed USAC to allow health care providers to file funding requests in the RHC Program up to 30 days after the close of the application filing window. If the FCC grants a waiver of the application filing deadline, USAC will process the funding request as if it was timely filed prior to the close of the application filing window. USAC will dismiss the funding request if there is no request to waive the application filing deadline or if the FCC denies the waiver request.
For more information, please read FCC Order DA 24-366.
March 20, 2026
RHC Program FY2026 Filing Window Closes on April 1!
The Funding Year (FY) 2026 filing window opened on December 1, 2025, and will close on April 1, 2026. This means all funding requests (FCC Forms 462 or 466) must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on April 1, 2026.
The following resources have been posted to the USAC website to assist applicants that are submitting the FCC Form 462 for the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program:
The following resources have been posted to the USAC website to assist applicants that are submitting the FCC Form 466 for the Telecommunications (Telecom):
NOTE: Forms that are in draft status are not considered submitted. Each FCC Form 462 and 466 must be signed, certified, and submitted prior to the April 1st deadline to be considered for funding. Learn more about filing windows.
March 20, 2026
RHC Connect Outage Due to System Upgrade: March 20, 2026
RHC Connect may be unavailable on Friday, March 20, 2026, from 7:00 p.m.- midnight ET due to a scheduled system upgrade. During this time, users may be unable to log in to and use RHC Connect. We apologize for any inconvenience.
March 10, 2026
RHC Program News
View the March 2026 Newsletter.
February 23, 2026
SAM.gov UEI Requirement
Beginning August 2026, USAC will begin using SAM.gov banking information to remit payment for all Universal Service Fund (USF) invoices. All service providers must have an active SAM.gov Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) on their FCC Form 498 and must have a valid bank account associated with their UEI. For more information, see the SAM.gov UEI Requirement webpage.
February 10, 2026
RHC Program News
View the February 2026 Newsletter.
January 13, 2026
RHC Program News
View the January 2026 Newsletter.
December 19, 2025
RHC Program News
View the RHC December Newsletter.
December 1, 2025
Submit your FY2026 Funding Requests Now!
The Funding Year (FY) 2026 filing window opened today, on December 1, 2025. Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program applicants and Telecommunications (Telecom) Program applicants can now submit funding requests in RHC Connect using the FCC Form 462 and the FCC Form 466. The filing window closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on April 1, 2026. We encourage all applicants to submit their funding requests as early as possible during the filing window.
Here are some resources to assist you during the submission process:
- HCF and Telecom Program Funding Request Webinars
- Funding Year Overview
- Examples of Common Products and Services – HCF Program
- Examples of Common Services – Telecom Program
- Urban and Rural Rate Information FY2026 – Telecom Program
- Welcome to RHC Connect – FCC Form 466 – Telecom Program
- Welcome to RHC Connect – FCC Form 462 – HCF Program
November 19, 2025
Update: FY2026 Telecom Program Rural Rates
On November 18, 2025, the FCC released order DA 25-954. This order waives the FCC’s rules to permit the use of previously approved rural rates from funding years (FY) 2023-2025 for funding year 2026 that would otherwise require approval of a cost-based justification For FY2026. Rural rates for the Telecommunications (Telecom) Program should be calculated using Method 1, or, if you cannot satisfy the requirements, then Method 2. If neither of these methods is feasible, then you must use Method 3.Â
For more information, read FCC Order DA 25-954. Please use the FY2026 Rural and Urban rate tip sheet as a resource.
November 3, 2025
Begin Draft FY2026 Funding Requests on November 1!
In preparation for Funding Year (FY) 2026, applicants can draft funding requests in RHC Connect beginning on November 1. The FY2026 filing window opens on December 1, 20245 and closes on April 1, 2026. Draft forms will remain in RHC Connect and can be submitted on December 1.
Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program and Telecommunication (Telecom) Program participants will use RHC Connect to submit their FCC Forms 462 and FCC Forms 466 (Funding Request Forms) for FY2026.
To learn more, please visit the following webpages:
- HCF Program – Welcome to RHC Connect – FCC Form 462
- Telecom Program – Welcome to RHC Connect – FCC Form 466
October 20, 2025
Resolved: Call Center Disruption
Thank you for your patience – this issue has been resolved. The phones for USAC’s Customer Service Center for E-Rate, Lifeline, High Cost, and Rural Health Care are currently experiencing disruptions. We are working to resolve the issue. If you need assistance, please contact USAC by email or create a ticket in EPC. We apologize for the inconvenience.