FCC Suspends Multiyear Commitment Rule in 2018 RHC Program, Extends '19 Deadline
Demand for upfront payments and multiyear commitments exceeded a $150 million cap for the first time in the history of the Rural Health Care Fund, said an FCC order Monday to provide full funding for all eligible requests for FY…
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2018. The agency said in docket 02-60 it has suspended its multiyear commitment rule for participants in the RHC program, which is backed by the Universal Service Administrative Co. and provides broadband assistance to rural healthcare providers. The order instructs USAC to designate contracts associated with multiyear funding requests as "evergreen" to exempt them from annual competitive bidding requirements. The commission extended the filing window for 2019 applications from May 31 to June 30, after some groups were concerned (see 1903190019). "We need to evaluate and better understand the growth in demand for the Healthcare Connect Fund, so we can stay ahead of changes and enable the program to meet the needs of those it serves," said Commissioner Geoffrey Starks in an accompanying statement.