Wireline Competition Bureau Approves Third group of Funding Awardees in ROUND 2 OF COVID-19 tELEHEALTH PROGRAM
71 Health Care Providers Receive Critical Support for Telehealth and Connected Care Services
WC Docket No. 20-89
Today, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) approves the third group of funding commitments under Round 2 of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Telehealth Program (Program) and commits $40.46 million in funding to 71 health care providers across the Nation.[1] The funding commitments made today will provide critical support to health care providers on the front lines in the fight against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) established the Program in April 2020 pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act[2] to provide $200 million in emergency funding to health care providers for telehealth and connected care services in response to COVID-19.[3] To build on the Program’s success, Congress appropriated an additional $249.95 million to fund the second round of the Program as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.[4] On March 30, 2021, the Commission released the Second COVID-19 Report and Order,[5] which initiated Round 2 of the Program by adopting additional requirements and processes to implement Congressional direction and
[1] See FCC Announces Awards For Round 2 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, WC Docket No. 20-89, Public Notices, DA 21-1052 and 21-1221 (WCB 2021).
[2] Promoting Telehealth for Low-Income Consumers; COVID-19 Telehealth Program, WC Docket Nos. 18-213, 20-89, Report and Order, 35 FCC Rcd 3366 (2020) (First COVID-19 Report and Order); Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Pub. L. No 116-136, 134 Stat. 281 (2020) (CARES Act).
[3] From April 16, 2020, through July 8, 2020, the Commission fully obligated the $200 million by issuing awards on a rolling basis to 539 applications. Press Release, FCC, FCC Approves Final Set of COVID-19 Telehealth Program Applications (July 8, 2020), https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-approves-final-set-covid-19-telehealth-program-applications.
[4] Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Pub. L. No: 116-260, Division N-Additional Coronavirus Response and Relief, Title IX-Broadband Internet Access Service, § 903 “FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program” (2020), available at https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/133/text (Consolidated Appropriations Act).
[5] COVID-19 Telehealth Program; Promoting Telehealth for Low-Income Consumers, WC Docket Nos. 20-89 and 18-213, Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration, 36 FCC Rcd 7141 (2021) (Second COVID-19 Report and Order).
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