The Honorable Thomas Wheeler 
Chairman 
lftnitcd ~tatcs ~cnatc 
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE. SCIENCE, 
AND TRANSPORTATION 
WASHINGTON, DC 20510 6125 
WEB SITE: http:' commerce.scnate.gov 
June 24, 2014 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 Iih Street SW 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
I write regarding the Commission's January 31 , 2014 decision to defer implementation of the 
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Pilot Program, and the promise this program held for the 
Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society (the "Society"). 1 Headquartered in South Dakota, 
the Society is the largest not-for-profit provider of long term care and related services in the 
nation, operating more than 240 facilities in 24 states, caring daily for more than 27,000 people, 
and employing more than 21 ,000 staff members nationwide. For nearly a century, operations in 
states like South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska have enabled 
the Society to develop an expertise in providing care in rural settings. 
The Society currently operates 168 SNFs, of which 122 are rural, with private data connections 
to its national headquarters in South Dakota. These SNFs play an important role in the delivery 
of care in our country, and are a significant and growing pioneer in telehealth services. The 
Society has designed and implemented technology to remotely connect patients in rural SNFs to 
hospitals and their doctors. These efforts are critical because rural patients often must travel up 
to 100 miles to see a physician. In addition, the Society has developed the LivingWell@Home 
program, which improves patients' quality of life and independence by utilizing sensor, 
telehealth, and personal emergency response technologies. 
The Society has been successfully deploying this technology in many of its facilities since 2012, 
and aims to expand the program across its 24 state presence. In order to do so, however, better 
and more affordable access to broadband is critical. Together, these programs help lower 
healthcare costs and enhance senior patients' well-being by improving care, reducing hospital 
visits, and keeping them connected to their professional and family caregivers. 
The Society recently submitted formal comments in response to the FCC's decision to defer 
implementation of the SNF Pilot Program, arguing that the agency should continue the program. 
The Society was joined in its pleading by the American Health Care Association and 
LeadingAge, the country ' s two largest associations for professionals focused on senior health 
1 Technology Transition Order and FNPRM, FCC 14-5, GN Docket 13-5, et al. , (2014). 
care. Together, the Society and the national associations advocated that the FCC provide 
assistance to SNFs in obtaining access to broadband services. I respectfully urge you to give 
their comments and request your full consideration. 
I am aware that the FCC, in its quest to improve broadband access, may also have other ways to 
support SNFs. I strongly encourage you to work to ensure that SNFs are able to participate in 
programs that expand rural health providers ' access to broadband. In doing so, the FCC can 
clearly meet its goals of (1) increasing access to broadband for health care providers, 
particularly those serving rural areas; (2) fostering the development and deployment of 
broadband health care networks; and (3) maximizing the cost-effectiveness of the Universal 
Service Fund. 
I look forward to your response on this matter. 
Sincerely, 
2