FCC Provides Guidance on Rural Rates in Rural Health Care Telecommunications Program

The funding year (FY) 2019 application filing window for the Rural Health Care Universal Service Support Mechanism (RHC Program) opened on February 1, 2019 and will run through May 31, 2019. To assist eligible health care providers participating in the RHC Telecom Program as they compile their applications for FY2019, this Public Notice provides guidance on complying with program rules, including the FCC’s rules for determining rural rates. It also provides a few reminders and tips that provide additional transparency into the program’s application process and will help applicants and service providers prepare their applications so as to expedite application review and the issuance of funding decisions by the program administrator, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC).