Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C. 254(h)(2)(A)
The FCC established a new three-year Connected Care Pilot Program, which will provide up to $100 million of support from the Universal Service Fund (USF) to help defray eligible health care providers’ costs of providing connected care services and help assess how USF funds might be used to support connected care services. The Connected Care Pilot provides funding for selected pilot projects to cover 85% of the eligible costs of broadband connectivity, certain network equipment (e.g., network equipment needed to make a support broadband service functional, such as a router), and information services necessary to provide connected care services to the intended patient population. In selecting pilot projects from eligible health care providers (HCPs), the FCC maintained a strong preference for pilot projects that will primarily benefit low-income Americans or veterans. Selections for the Connected Care Pilot Program have already been announced.
Not Applicable
Subsidy
Not Applicable
The Connected Care Pilot Program application window closed on December 7, 2020. On January 15, 2020, the Commission announced an initial set of 14 pilot projects with over 150 treatment sites in 11 states that were selected for the Connected Care Pilot Program. The selected projects requested a total of $26.6 million for proposed projects to treat nearly half a million patients in both urban and rural parts of the country. On June 17, 2021, the Commission announced a second set, approving 36 separate applications requesting $31.3 million. On October 27, 2021, the Commssion announced a third set of projects, selecting an additional 36 applications, with requests totaling $15.3 million. On March 17, 2022, the Commission announced the fourth and final set of Pilot projects, totaling $29,752,601.
All funding commitments shall end three years from the first date of service for the respective Pilot project and by not later than June 30, 2025.
The Connected Care Pilot Program is funded through the FCC’s Universal Service Fund, rather than appropriated funds. The FCC allocated up to $100 million for the Connected Care Pilot Program.
Amount Available Towards Broadband (if specified): Up to $100 million.
No
The Pilot Program can be used to complement other funding from federal programs that provide funding for other connected care service related expenses that are not covered under Pilot Program funding. This can include federal program funding that would provide funding for devices, including end-user connected devices (e.g., tablets, smart phones, or remote patient monitoring equipment), medical equipment, health care provider administrative costs, personnel costs (including, but not limited to medical professional costs), or other miscellaneous expenses.
The Connected Care Pilot provides funding for selected pilot projects to cover 85% of the eligible costs of broadband connectivity, certain network equipment (e.g., network equipment needed to make a support broadband service functional, such as a router), and information services necessary to provide connected care services to the intended patient population.
Not Applicable
Eligible Health Care Providers
The FCC has a strong preference for Pilot Projects that will primarily benefit low-income and veteran patients
Not Applicable
After each year of funding, Pilot Program participants are required to file annual reports providing data on, among other things, patient population, patient satisfaction, impact on the number of appointments and hospital stays, and progress toward meeting the Pilot Program’s goals. Additionally, participating health care providers are required to submit final reports within six months of the end dates of their pilot projects summarizing the final results, and explaining whether the pilot projects met their stated goals and the goals of the Pilot Program.
- ConnectedCare@fcc.gov
- FCC, Wireline Competition Bureau, Telecommunications Access Policy Division: (202) 418-7400
April 2023