FCC Fully Funds RHC Program for FY2022; USAC Estimates Demand at $697.85 Million

On July 22, 2022, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced that there is sufficient funding available to fully meet the Universal Service Administrative Company’s (USAC) estimated demand for the Rural Healthcare program’s year (FY) 2022.

USAC estimated that the total RHC Program demand for FY 2022 is $697.85 million which includes $407.23 million for the Healthcare Connect Fund, $262.48 million for the Telecommunications Program, and $28.15 million for administrative expenses.

While demand is higher than the RHC Program funding cap of $637,721,108.10 for funding year 2022, USAC informed the Bureau that the total amount available for carry-forward for the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program is $380.50 million.  WCB directed USAC to carry forward the $380.50 million as necessary to satisfy FY 2022 demand. 

The internal cap on multi-year commitments and upfront payments under the Healthcare Connect Fund Program is $161,022,761.  Both caps are a 4.2% inflation-adjusted increase to the RHC Program funding cap and the internal cap on multi-year commitments and upfront payments from funding year 2021.