FCC Stops Taking COVID-19 Telehealth Applications After Exceeding Budgeted Demand
The FCC stopped taking COVID-19 telehealth applications, it announced Thursday. "Based on the applications received to date, demand for funding exceeds available" money. Some $200 million was allotted. The FCC doesn't "want to impose burdens on health care providers who may prepare new applications that cannot be funded under the current appropriation."
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The program has approved 444 requests in 46 states plus Washington, D.C., for $157.64 million, the agency announced. The latest awards were disclosed this week, see here. A Wireline Bureau public notice has details on the cessation of accepting new requests for money. See here.
The FCC didn't immediately answer our questions. Commissioner Brendan Carr has been a proponent at the agency for telehealth funds. His office didn't comment right away.