FCC Increases Rural Telecom Funds to $571 Million

18 Jun FCC Increases Rural Telecom Funds to $571 Million

The FCC voted to increase the funding cap for the Rural Healthcare Program. The program recently came under fire for not fulfilling funding commitments made to service providers and rural hospitals.  Earlier this year, the Commission sought input on proposed rulemaking which would increase the limit of total funding available for the RHC program which provides funding to rural providers in order to expand services such as telemedicine. The funding cap had not previously been increased since inception, but recent years have seen demand beyond the availability of funds. The FCC aims to provide more hospitals with the funds needed in order to improve services.