Rural Health Care
About Rural Health Care:
- Overview of the Program
- Overview of the Process
- Monthly Conference Calls
- Individual Outreach
- Understanding Audits
- Training Events
- Filing Appeals
- FCC Links
- Rural Health Care Pilot Program
Rural Health Care Tools:
FCC Links
USAC and the FCC
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated USAC, an independent, not-for-profit corporation as the administrator of the federal Universal Service Fund. The Universal Fund has four programs that USAC administers in accordance with FCC rules and policies: High Cost, Low Income, Rural Health Care, and Schools and Libraries.
The FCC's responsibilities include:
- Setting rules and policies for the Universal Service Fund
- Providing oversight of USAC
- Reporting data on the USF
USAC's responsibilities include:
- Administering USF support programs on behalf of the FCC in an efficient, effective and competitively neutral manner
- Billing contributors, collecting contributions, and disbursing universal service support
- Communicating with stakeholders about USF programs, including beneficiaries of the four USF programs and telecommunications and other service providers
- Ensuring program accountability
- Protecting the integrity of the Fund
- Reporting quarterly to the FCC on disbursement of USF support
Helpful Resources and Links
- FCC Website
- FCC Rural Health Care Program Website
- RHC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), FCC 10-125 (rel. July 15, 2010)
- Public Notice establishing Comment Cycle for NPRM, WC Docket No. 02-60
- Read Comments Submitted for RHC NPRM, WC Docket No. 02- 60 (type "02-60" into "Proceeding Number")
- FCC Consumer Fact Sheet
- FCC Orders
- National Broadband Plan (click on Health Care)
- Federal Regulations for Universal Service
