Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Further Comment On Issues in The Rural Health Care Reform Proceeding

In this Public Notice, the Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau seeks to develop a more robust record in the pending Rural Health Care reform rulemaking proceeding, particularly with regard to the proposed Broadband Services Program.

The Commission’s Rural Health Care Pilot Program has helped foster the creation and growth of numerous state and regional broadband networks of health care providers (HCPs) throughout the country. These Pilot project networks have enabled health care providers in rural areas to tap into the medical and technical expertise of other health care providers on their networks, using telemedicine and other telehealth applications to improve the quality and lower the cost of health care for their patients in rural areas. As the Commission moves forward with reform of the Rural Health Care (RHC) program, it can benefit greatly from the experience of the Pilot projects and the lessons learned in the Pilot Program. A more focused and comprehensive record will help the Commission craft an efficient permanent program that will help health care providers exploit the potential of broadband to make health care better, more widely available, and less expensive for patients in rural areas.

Comments due August 23, 2012; Reply Comments September 7, 2012 (WC Docket No. 02-60)