RHC NPRM Draft Released

The FCC today released a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order on changes to the Rural Health Care program. 

It will be voted on at the Commission’s August 6 meeting.  If the NPRM is adopted by the Commission, a comment cycle will be set after the NPRM is published in the Federal Register.

The NPRM would seek comment on the telecom program’s rural rate calculations, an RHC eligible services list, performance metrics for the program, eliminating the requirement that USAC approve evergreen contracts and eliminating the HCF’s requirement of an annual report.  

The Order would waive the Commission’s rules to permit the use of previously approved rural rates for FY 2027.