FCC to Consider Budgeting $100 Million for New Telehealth Pilot Program

The Federal Communications Commission will seek to establish a new $100 million Connected Care Pilot Program to support telehealth for low-income Americans, especially those living in rural areas and veterans, Commissioner Brendan Carr announced today. The commission will vote at its August meeting on a notice seeking comment on budgeting $100 million in Universal Service Fund support for the program. “I want to thank Chairman Pai who, as the son of two doctors, appreciates the role that telemedicine plays in connecting rural communities to health care opportunities,” Carr said. “I am grateful for the support he has shown as my office has worked on developing this pilot program. I also want to thank the leadership shown on these issues by Sens. John Thune [R-SD], Roger Wicker [R-MS], Deb Fischer [R-NE], Cory Gardner [R-CO], and Todd Young [R-IN] who have all urged the FCC to take additional steps in support of connected care deployments.”