Today’s Regulatory Mix: FCC Issues January Open Meeting Agenda, FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on COVID-19 Telehealth Program Application Evaluation Metrics
FCC Issues January Open Meeting Agenda
The FCC has issued the agenda for its January 13, 2021, Open Meeting. Outside of several presentations about the FCC’s accomplishments, the FCC added one item (listed below) that may be of relevance to our readers.
Promoting Telehealth for Low-Income Consumers
SUMMARY: The FCC will consider a Public Notice announcing the first round of selections for the FCC’s $100 million Connected Care Pilot Program to provide Universal Service Fund support for health care providers making connected care services available directly to patients, with an emphasis on serving veterans and low-income Americans.
FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on COVID-19 Telehealth Program Application Evaluation Metrics
The FCC issued a Public Notice seeking comment on application evaluation metrics for its COVID-19 Telehealth program. To build on the success of the FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program, in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Congress appropriated an additional $249.95 million for the Program. The Act requires the FCC to seek comment on “the metrics the Commission should use to evaluate applications for funding” and “how the Commission should treat applications filed during the funding rounds for awards from the COVID-19 Telehealth Program using amounts appropriated under the CARES Act . . . .” Through this Public Notice, the FCC is seeking comment on these matters, as well as how to meet the Act’s other requirements for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program and other improvements to the application, review, and invoicing process. Comments are due January 19, 2021.
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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of an Inteserra Briefing.
