AL FRANKEN
MINNESOTA
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WASHINGTON, DC 20510-2309
November 16,2012
The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski:
I write to ask that you fmalize reforms to the Universal Service Rural Health Care Fund
proposed on July 15,2010 that would make skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) eligible for rural
health care support. As the nation moves towards using health information technology to
improve quality and lower costs, rural Americans must not get left behind.
Skilled nursing facilities are an especially important care provider in rural areas-nearly
one-third of all skilled nursing facilities are located in rural areas. Your 2010 Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking recognized that in rural areas, advances in telemedicine have empowered SNFs to
treat patients quickly and at lower cost, because patients no longer have to be transferred to
hospitals for treatment. For this reason, in 2010, you proposed that SNFs be eligible for rural
health care support through the Universal Service Rural Health Care Fund.
However, more than two years later, this rule has yet to be finalized. Despite their
potential to provide high-quality, low-cost care in rural areas, SNFs remain ineligible for help
obtaining broadband connectivity. Your proposed rule could help rural health providers connect
to the 21 sl century, and I respectfully ask that you finalize this rule as soon as possible. Thank
you for your consideration of this matter, and I look forward to your response.
Sincere
AI Franken
United States Senator
WWW.FRANKEN.SENATE.GOV
SUITE
SH-309
202-224-5641