PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 TTY 202 / 418-2555 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov DA 07-1188 Released: March 9, 2007 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES OMB APPROVAL OF THE RURAL HEALTH CARE PILOT PROGRAM INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS AND THE DEADLINE FOR FILING APPLICATIONS Application Filing Deadline: May 7, 2007 On September 26, 2006, the Commission adopted the Rural Health Care Pilot Program Order, which established a rural health care pilot program to encourage the provision of telehealth and telemedicine services throughout the nation.1 Under the pilot program, selected applicants will receive up to 85 percent of the costs of building state and regional broadband networks and connecting those networks to Internet2 or National LambdaRail, Inc., dedicated nationwide backbone providers, as well as the costs of the advanced telecommunications and information services that will ride over those networks.2 Selected applicants will also receive up to 85 percent of the costs of connecting to the public Internet.3 The Order included criteria for applications to participate in the rural health care pilot program.4 The Commission requested approval of these criteria (the “information collection requirements”) from the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) on January 10, 2007.5 On March 8, 2007, the Commission received OMB approval of the information collection requirements. Under the terms of the Rural Health Care Pilot Program Order, as modified by the Rural Health Care Pilot Program Order on Reconsideration, applications to participate in the pilot program are due sixty 1 See Rural Health Care Support Mechanism, WC Docket No. 02-60, Order, 21 FCC Rcd 11111 (2006) (“Rural Health Care Pilot Program Order”); See also, Order on Reconsideration, FCC 07-6 (rel. Feb. 6, 2007) (“Pilot Program Order on Reconsideration”). 2 Rural Health Care Pilot Program Order, 21 FCC Rcd at 11111-12, 11115, paras. 1-3, 14; Pilot Program Order on Reconsideration at para. 5.. 3 Because participants are authorized to spend program funds on the costs of advanced telecommunications and information services, applicants are permitted to request funding to connect their proposed networks to the public Internet. See, Pilot Program Order on Reconsideration at n. 5. 4 Rural Health Care Pilot Program Order, 21 FCC Rcd at 11116, para. 17. 5 See, 72 Fed. Reg. 1225 (Jan. 10, 2007). 2 (60) days from the date of OMB approval of the information collection requirements.6 Accordingly, applicants must submit their applications to the Commission no later than May 7, 2007. General filing procedures for applications are detailed in the Rural Health Care Pilot Program Order.7 Applicants are also reminded that documents are consider filed with the Commission upon receipt, not postmark.8 Pilot program applicants should also be aware that the Commission’s rules permit any person submitting information to the Commission to request that such information be withheld from public inspection (i.e., afforded confidential treatment). Applicants interested in requesting confidential treatment of their applications should review section 0.459 of the Commission’s rules, which describes the information that must be included in the request, as well as filing procedures for those seeking confidential treatment.9 To facilitate transparency and in light of the pilot nature of the program, the Bureau has determined that this matter will be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules.10 Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the presentation and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments presented generally is required.11 Other rules pertaining to oral and written ex parte presentations in permit-but- disclose proceedings are set forth in section 1.1206(b) of the Commission’s rules.12 People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). For further information, please contact Erika Olsen, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Erika.Olsen@fcc.gov, (202) 418-2868. -FCC- 6 Rural Health Care Pilot Program Order, 21 FCC Rcd at 11117, 11118, paras. 20, 24; Pilot Program Order on Reconsideration at para. 9. 7 Rural Health Care Pilot Program Order, 21 FCC Rcd at 11117-18, paras. 21-23. 8 47 C.F.R. § 1.7. 9 47 C.F.R. § 0.459. 10 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200 et seq. 11 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b)(2). 12 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b).