SHLB Coalition Backs Alaska Communications on Plea for Rural Healthcare 'Full Funding'
The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition backed Alaska Communications' request the FCC provide "full funding" for the USF rural healthcare (RHC) subsidy support program (see 1706200049). "Even though the demand for RHC funding has increased substantially in the past…
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year -- exceeding the $400 Million cap -- the Public Notice issued by the Office of Managing Director (OMD) proposes to collect less than $0 for the third quarter of 2017 for the RHC program," said an SHLB filing Friday in docket 96-45. "Without taking public comment or going through a rulemaking proceeding, the Public Notice proposes to change existing policy and to use reserve funds from prior years to cover the RHC demand for the upcoming quarter. This policy change is a dramatic departure from prior practice." Peninsula Community Health Services of Alaska, Ninilchik Traditional Council and Kenaitze Indian Tribe said (here, here, here) the reserve fund shouldn't be used to lower the USF contribution factor in Q3 at the long-term expense of the RHC program. Two other Alaska entities made similar filings recently (see 1706220020). A proposed USF contribution factor of 17.1 percent of carrier interstate and international telecom end-user revenue takes effect Tuesday absent FCC action. Meanwhile, the Wireline Bureau Friday waived an invoice filing deadline under the Healthcare Connect Fund for about 50 healthcare providers listed in an order Friday in docket 02-60.