The
FCC Wednesday changed some of the rules for its Rural Health Care (RHC)
and E-Rate programs to make it easier for broadband providers to
support telehealth and remote learning efforts during the coronavirus
pandemic. The Wireline Competition Bureau waived the gift rules until
September 30. This will enable service providers to offer, and RHC and
E-Rate program participants to solicit and accept, improved connections
or additional equipment for telemedicine or remote learning during the
outbreak.
Commission rules prohibit entities eligible for the RHC and E-Rate
programs from soliciting or accepting anything of value from a service
provider participating in or one that wants to take part in those
programs. The waiver will allow health care providers, schools, and
libraries to accept improved capacity, WiFi hotspots, networking gear,
or other equipment or services to support doctors and patients, teachers
and students, and librarians and patrons during the coronavirus
outbreak. For example, some providers have expressed interest in
providing free network upgrades for hospitals that need more robust
connections to treat patients via telemedicine and free connected
devices and hotspots for students taking classes at home, according to
the agency. Continue Reading
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