Broadband Healthcare Comments Seek FCC Rural Funding Hike, Deployment Efforts
The FCC should hike rural healthcare funding and spur high-speed deployment, some parties said regarding the agency's broadband healthcare solutions initiative. The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, the American Hospital Association, Alaska groups and others urged the FCC to increase the USF healthcare connect fund's $400 million in annual support. Communications industry interests sought actions to remove barriers to broadband deployment and free up more spectrum. Almost 70 comments were filed in docket 16-46 by Thursday.
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Parties were responding to a public notice seeking information and ideas on ways to improve accessibility to and adoption of broadband-enabled healthcare solutions, particularly in underserved communities (see 1704240068 and 1705100038). A Connect2HealthFCC Task Force will use the information to make recommendations to the agency.
SHLB said the rural healthcare (RHC) program should be "modernized" in a new rulemaking to address the "booming" bandwidth demand of healthcare providers and closing of scores of rural hospitals, which "has exacerbated the shortage of traditional medical care." It noted the $400 million cap on program funding was reached for the first time this year (see 1704110007), reducing funding by 7.5 percent to individual applicants. An NPRM should kick off extensive data gathering aimed at making rule changes to improve program operations and "significantly raise" the RHC cap, with unused funds rolled over into future years, as in the E-rate school and library program, the coalition said.
The AHA, the National Rural Health Association and others backed a funding increase. The $400 million cap "is no longer sufficient to meet burgeoning demand. The inclusion of a new class of provider -- skilled nursing facilities -- beginning in 2017 will place additional demands on funding," said AHA, which also called for returning the broadband service discount to 85 percent from 65 percent. The NHRA said only $1.1 billion was distributed through the program over its first 17 years, and while it's now reaching full use, the association is concerned "the money is still not going to those most in need" and requires "strong safeguards."
Alaska Communications said an $800 million cap is justified. "The recent collision of the RHC funding mechanism with the legacy $400 million program budget cap has dealt severe setbacks to RHC in the most remote parts of Alaska," it said. Alaska's three-Republican congressional delegation said the program is "essential" there, noted the cap hasn't increased "despite rising costs" and urged the FCC to ensure "the viability of the program in order to meet the increased demand for telemedicine services." Other Alaska parties backed a funding increase, including many tribal groups. The National Congress of American Indians and the National Indian Health Board asked for a memorandum of understanding between the FCC and the Indian Health Service and a tribal set-aside for commission healthcare funding.
To encourage mobile health services, CTIA wants the FCC to back off Communications Act Title II broadband regulation, streamline broadband deployment processes, make more exclusive licensed spectrum available in low-, mid- and high-frequency bands and ensure wireless is eligible for USF support, it said. The Competitive Carriers Association urged unlocking more spectrum to drive broadband deployment, but said industry consolidation is "stifling competitive carriers' ability to access content and devices necessary for telehealth solutions." CTA (here) and Qualcomm (here) sought more spectrum and streamlining of infrastructure processes. Nokia cited connected healthcare device and cloud-based solutions.
Comcast said ensuring consumer broadband access is the top priority and hailed Chairman Ajit Pai's "Digital Empowerment Agenda" and Commissioner Mignon Clyburn's broadband healthcare leadership. It said state licensing rules restrict telehealth across state lines and cited uncertainty about Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement as "hindering" telehealth. NTCA said telemedicine is especially beneficial in rural areas. TracFone Wireless said Lifeline support is vital to improving low-income consumer healthcare. Hughes cited satellite broadband healthcare solutions and urged technologically neutral programs. TerreStar said granting its 1.4 GHz waiver request "will generate enormous" healthcare benefits.
Numerous telemedicine, healthcare and public safety entities backed the FCC's focus and delved into healthcare details, including the American Telemedicine Association, ACT | The App Association’s Connected Health Initiative Association, UnitedHealth Group, Kaiser Permanente, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council.