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 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 For  Immediate  Release:  News  Media  Contact:  November  21,  2006  Rosemary  Kimball  at  (202)  418-  0511 
 e-  mail:  rosemary.  kimball@  fcc.  gov 
 FCC  LAUNCHES  “RURAL  HEALTH  CARE  PILOT  PROGRAM”  WEBSITE  Pilot  Funding  Program  Will  Facilitate  Creation  of  Nationwide  Broadband  Healthcare  Network 


 Washington,  DC  --  The  FCC  has  launched  a  website  (http://  www.  fcc.  gov/  cgb/  rural/  rhcp.  html)  that  provides  a  consolidated  source  of  information 
 about  the  FCC’s  recently  announced  Rural  Health  Care  Pilot  Program.  The  website  includes  the  Order  adopting  the  pilot  program  and  the  accompanying  news  release,  a  PDF  slide  presentation 
 giving  an  overview  of  the  program,  and  frequently  asked  questions  (FAQs),  The  website  will  be  updated  periodically,  as  appropriate. 


 The  FCC’s  pilot  program  is  an  innovative,  enhanced  funding  initiative  intended  to  help  public  and  non-  profit  health  care  providers  construct  state-  and  region-  wide  broadband  networks 
 to  provide  telehealth  and  telemedicine  services  throughout  the  nation.  The  program  will  fund  up  to  85%  of  the  costs  of  constructing  those  networks,  as  well  as  the  costs  of  advanced 
 telecommunications  and  information  services  that  will  ride  over  these  networks.  If  selected,  up  to  85%  of  the  cost  of  connecting  to  Internet2,  a  dedicated  nationwide  backbone,  may  also  be  funded 
 by  the  pilot  program.  Connection  to  Internet  2  is  not  required,  but  may  be  requested  by  the  applicants. 


 Applications  for  the  program  must  be  filed  no  later  than  30  days  after  the  Commission  receives  approval  from  the  Office  of  Management  and  Budget  (OMB)  of  the  information 
 collection  requirements  contained  in  the  FCC’s  Order  announcing  the  pilot  program.  (The  Paperwork  Reduction  Act  collection  requirements  were  published  in  the  Federal  Register  on 
 October  18,  2006.)  The  FCC  will  issue  a  Public  Notice  announcing  OMB  approval  once  that  has  occurred. 


 -  FCC  - 
 Consumer  &  Governmental  Affairs  Bureau  Contact:  Robert  Somers  at  (202)  418-  1483. 
 Wireline  Competition  Bureau  Contact:  Erika  Olsen  at  (202)  418-  2868. 
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