FCC Asks USAC for Rural Health Care Program Evaluation Plan

On Feb 15, the Federal Communications Commission directed the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to take steps to implement the recommendations in the Government Accountability Office Report entitled Telecommunications: FCC's Performance Management Weaknesses Could Jeopardize Proposed Reforms of the Rural Health Care Program. Specifically USAC is directed to develop an evaluation plan for the Rural Health Care Pilot Program.

Such efforts may include the use of an independent consultant subject to FCC oversight and approval, and should consider the input from relevant stakeholders, such as the Department of Health and Human Services. USAC and FCC staff efforts should determine the sufficiency of the quarterly reporting requirements for Pilot Program participants. For example, USAC and FCC staff should determine whether Pilot Program participants are providing sufficiently detailed and complete disclosure in their quarterly reports. USAC and FCC staff may also consider whether there are improvements to information that should be collected from Pilot Program participants as would benefit future program reforms. The evaluation plan should consider various alternatives to obtain input from Pilot Program participants regarding lessons learned from the Pilot Program.