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Joint Vote

FCC OKs Emergency COVID-19 Telehealth Plan, Connected Care Pilot 4-1

FCC commissioners finished OK'ing an emergency COVID-19 telehealth program Tuesday (see 2004010032) that directs $200 million from the Cares Act to healthcare providers to treat patients at home. Chairman Ajit Pai circulated the item Monday (see 2003300048) and Commissioner Brendan Carr voted then. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said Tuesday morning he voted yes. At that day's FCC meeting, Commissioner Mike O'Rielly asked that the item, which attached a three-year, $100 million USF Connected Care pilot long in the works (see 2003120002), be split in two so commissioners could deliberate on them separately.

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By that time, the item had majority support. The final order stuck with the twinned approach, agency officials told us. Pai touted the coronavirus telehealth program, including on Fox News Wednesday morning.

O'Rielly approved in part and dissented in part. "Without reservation, I support the first part of this item, which establishes COVID-19 telehealth program pursuant to clear authority provided by Congress," O'Rielly said. He called the Connected Care item "half-cooked and rushed out the door to take advantage of the current crisis." He said he didn't want his serious reservations about the pilot to jeopardize release of the emergency telehealth funds. He dissented from the pilot. He said he's afraid the program is a "beauty contest" that lacks rigor, and he objects to the lack of specificity in the USF program source for funding.

Jessica Rosenworcel approved in part, concurred in part. Carr tweeted his support.

The final order on the Connected Care pilot doesn't differ materially from the proposal, an official said. The orders for dockets 20-89 and 18-213 weren't released Wednesday evening.