FCC Announces $42 Million in COVID-19 Telehealth Program Awards

The Federal Communications Commission approved an initial set of 62 applications for funding commitments totaling $41.98 million for Round 2 of its COVID-19 Telehealth Program. The FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program supports the efforts of healthcare providers to continue serving their patients by providing reimbursement for telecommunications services, information services, and connected devices necessary to enable telehealth during the pandemic. This first set of awards will go to applications that qualify for the equitable distribution step, as required by Congress and outlined in the FCC’s rules, to ensure nationwide distribution of funding to healthcare providers. Round 2 is a $249.95 million federal initiative that builds on the $200 million program established as part of the CARES Act. Now that funding has been committed to the highest-scoring applications from each state, territory, and DC, the next funding awards will commit funding to the highest-scoring applications, regardless of geography, until at least $150 million has been committed. The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau will then announce an opportunity for all remaining applicants to supplement their applications.