Alaska Tribal Group Asks FCC to Make Up 2016 'Shortfall' in Rural Healthcare Draft
An Alaska tribal group asked the FCC to "fully fund" the USF Rural Health Care Program for funding year 2016 in the draft order and NPRM targeted for a vote at the Dec. 14 commissioners' meeting (see 1711220026). The commission…
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draft proposed to "carry forward for use in FY 2017 any available RHC Program funds from prior funding years and, on a one-time-basis, commit those funds" to RHC participants for FY 2017, said a Tanana Chiefs Conference filing in docket 17-310. While applauding that proposal, the TCC said the draft doesn't "address the existing RHC Program funding shortfall" for FY 2016, which "caused a great deal of hardship" for rural healthcare providers and the people who depend on them. The group said the FCC should ensure that those providers "get all the funds to which they were entitled before" the agency implemented "pro rata funding."