Insights: Broadband Legal Strategies Blog

The Wireline Competition Bureau announced that it will begin accepting applications for the $200 million COVID-19 Telehealth Program on Monday, April 13, 2020 at 12:00 PM ET through a dedicated application portal available at www.fcc.gov/covid19telehealth.  To assist applicants with the application process, the Bureau plans to post an explainer video on the same website at 11:00 AM ET, an hour before the application portal opens.  Applications for the program will be accepted on a rolling basis.

On April 2, 2020, the FCC issued a Report and Order establishing the short-term COVID-19 Telehealth Program.  Support is not limited to rural health care providers (HCPs).

On April 2, 2020, the FCC issued a Report and Order adopting the final rules for the Connected Care Pilot Program.   Support is not limited to rural health care providers (HCPs).

On April 1, 2020, the FCC issued an Order extending certain E-rate program deadlines.  The Commission had previously extended the E-rate application filing window for Funding Year 2020 until April 29, 2020.

On March 26, 2020, the FCC released an Order taking the following actions in the Rural Health Care Program.

On March 18, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission released an Order waiving the gift rules in the E-rate and Rural Health Care programs.  This waiver is in effect until September 30, 2020.

On March 13, 2020, the FCC announced that the second quarter USF factor will be 19.6 percent.  This is a decrease from 21.2 percent in the first quarter of 2020.