FEDERAL COMMUNICATION S C O MMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
O F"F"ICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Robert E. Latta 
U.S. House of Representatives 
2448 Rayburn House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Latta: 
September 19, 2014 
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to clarify the meaning of the term "not­
for-profit hospital." Your views are important to me and will be considered as part of the 
Commission ' s review of this matter. 
As part of its oversight ofthe implementation ofthe Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) 
program, the Commission has received questions regarding the defmition of the term "not-for­
profit-hospital" and its application to some health care providers. As you may know, "not-for­
profit-hospital" is a statutory term that appears in Section 254(h)(7)(B) of the Communications 
Act of 1934, as amended. Commission staff are actively reviewing questions about the term's 
defmition and seek to reach a determination in as expeditious a manner as possible. In general, it 
is important that the types of health care consortia envisioned by the HCF program have the 
flexibility to include as members those entities which will provide as broad an array oftelehealth 
and telemedicine applications as possible, while also ensuring the program maintains sufficient 
funding to aid the beneficiaries for which it is primarily intended: rural health care providers. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know ifT can be of any further 
assistance. 
Tom Wheeler 
F EDERAL COMMUNICATIONS C OMM ISSION 
W AS H INGTON 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Mike Coffman 
U.S. House of Representatives 
2443 Rayburn House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Coffman: 
September 19,2014 
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to clarify the meaning of the term "not­
for-profit hospital." Your views are important to me and will be considered as part of the 
Commission ' s review of this matter. 
As part of its oversight of the implementation ofthe Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) 
program, the Commission has received questions regarding the defmition of the term " not-for­
profit-hospital" and its application to some health care providers. As you may know, "not-for­
profit-hospital" is a statutory term that appears in Section 254(h)(7)(B) of the Communications 
Act of 1934, as amended. Commission staff are actively reviewing questions about the term's 
defmition and seek to reach a determination in as expeditious a manner as possible. In general, it 
is important that the types of health care consortia envisioned by the HCF program have the 
flexibility to include as members those entities which will provide as broad an array oftelehealth 
and telemedicine applications as possible, while also ensuring the program maintains sufficient 
funding to aid the beneficiaries for which it is primarily intended: rural health care providers. 
1 appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if 1 can be of any further 
assistance. 
Tom Wheeler 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
O f"FI CE O F 
THE. C H A I R MAN September 19, 20 14 
The Honorable Rodney Davis 
U.S. House of Representatives 
1740 Longworth House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Davis: 
Thank you for your Jetter urging the Commission to clarify the meaning of the term "not­
for-profit hospital." Your views are important to me and will be considered as part of the 
Commission's review of this matter. 
As part of its oversight of the implementation of the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) 
program, the Commission has received questions regarding the defmition of the term " not-for­
profit-hospital" and its application to some health care providers. As you may know, "not-for­
profit-hospital" is a statutory term that appears in Section 254(h)(7)(B) of the Communications 
Act of 1934, as amended. Commission staff are active ly reviewing questions about the term's 
defmition and seek to reach a determination in as expeditious a manner as possible. In general, it 
is important that the types of health care consortia envisioned by the HCF program have the 
flexibility to include as members those entities which will provide as broad an array oftelehealth 
and telemedicine applications as possible, while also ensuring the program maintains sufficient 
funding to aid the beneficiaries for which it is primarily intended: rural health care providers. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please Jet me know if I can be of any further 
assistance. 
Tom Wheeler 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS C OMMISSION 
W ASHINGTON 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Cory Gardner 
U.S. House of Representatives 
213 Cannon House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Gardner: 
September 19, 2014 
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to clarifY the meaning of the term "not­
for-profit hospital." Your views are important to me and will be considered as part of the 
Commission 's review of this matter. 
As part of its oversight of the implementation ofthe Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) 
program, the Commission has received questions regarding the defmition of the term "not-for­
profit-hospital" and its application to some health care providers. As you may know, "not-for­
profit-hospital" is a statutory term that appears in Section 254(h)(7)(B) of the Communications 
Act of 1934, as amended. Commission staff are active ly reviewing questions about the term's 
defmition and seek to reach a determination in as expeditious a manner as possible. In general, it 
is important that the types of health care consortia envisioned by the HCF program have the 
flexibility to include as members those entities which will provide as broad an array oftelehealth 
and telemedicine app lications as possible, while also ensuring the program maintains sufficient 
funding to aid the beneficiaries for which it is primarily intended: rural health care providers. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further 
assistance. 
Tom Wheeler 
F E DERAL C O MMUNICATIO N S C O MMI SS IO N 
W AS H IN G T ON 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN September 19,2014 
The Honorable Adam Kinzinger 
U.S. House of Representatives 
1221 Longworth House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Kinzinger: 
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to clarify the meaning of the term "not­
for-profit hospital." Your views are important to me and will be considered as part of the 
Commission's review of this matter. 
As part of its oversight of the implementation ofthe Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) 
program, the Commission has received questions regarding the defmition of the term "not-for­
profit-hospital" and its application to some health care providers. As you may know, "not-for­
profit-hospital" is a statutory term that appears in Section 254(h)(7)(B) of the Communications 
Act of 1934, as amended. Commission staff are actively reviewing questions about the term's 
defmition and seek to reach a determination in as expeditious a manner as possible. In general, it 
is important that the types of health care consortia envisioned by the HCF program have the 
flexibility to include as members those entities which will provide as broad an array oftelehealth 
and telemedicine applications as possible, while also ensuring the program maintains sufficient 
funding to aid the beneficiaries for which it is primarily intended: rural health care providers. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know ifl can be of any further 
assistance. 
Sincerely, 
Tom Wheeler 
F EDERAL COMM UN ICATIO N S C O M M ISSIO N 
W ASHI NGT ON 
OFFICE OF 
TH E C HAI RMA N 
The Honorable Luke Messer 
U.S. House of Representatives 
508 Cannon House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Messer: 
September 19, 2014 
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to clarify the meaning of the term "not­
for-profit hospital." Your views are important to me and will be considered as part of the 
Commission's review of this matter. 
As part of its oversight ofthe implementation of the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) 
program, the Commission has received questions regarding the defmition of the term "not-for­
profit-hospital" and its application to some health care providers. As you may know, "not-for­
profit-hospital" is a statutory term that appears in Section 254(h)(7)(B) of the Communications 
Act of 1934, as amended. Commission staff are actively reviewing questions about the term's 
defmition and seek to reach a determination in as expeditious a manner as possible. In general, it 
is important that the types of health care consortia envisioned by the HCF program have the 
flexibility to include as members those entities which will provide as broad an array oftelehealth 
and telemedicine applications as possible, while also ensuring the program maintains sufficient 
funding to aid the beneficiaries for which it is primarily intended: rural health care providers. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know ifl can be of any further 
assistance. 
Sincerely, 
Tom Wheeler 
FEDERAL COMMUN ICATIONS COMMISSION 
W AS HI NGTON 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Todd Rokita 
U.S. House ofRepresentatives 
236 Cannon House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Rokita: 
September 19, 2014 
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to clarify the meaning of the term "not­
for-profit hospital." Your views are important to me and will be considered as part of the 
Commission' s review of this matter. 
As part of its oversight ofthe implementation of the Hea1thcare Connect Fund (HCF) 
program, the Commission has received questions regarding the defmition of the term "not-for­
profit-hospital" and its application to some health care providers. As you may know, "not-for­
profit-hospital" is a statutory term that appears in Section 254(h)(7)(B) of the Communications 
Act of 1934, as amended. Commission staff are actively reviewing questions about the term' s 
defmition and seek to reach a determination in as expeditious a manner as possible. In general, it 
is important that the types of health care consortia envisioned by the HCF program have the 
flexibility to include as members those entities which will provide as broad an array oftelehealth 
and telemedicine applications as possible, while also ensuring the program maintains sufficient 
funding to aid the beneficiaries for which it is primarily intended: rural health care providers. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know ifl can be of any further 
assistance. 
Sincerely, 
Tom Wheeler 
F EDERAL C OMM U N ICATIONS C OMMISSION 
W AS HING T ON 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN September 19, 2014 
The Honorable Marlin Stutzman 
U.S. House of Representatives 
1728 Longworth House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Stutzman: 
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to clarify the meaning of the term "not­
for-profit hospital." Your views arc important to me and will be considered as part of the 
Commission ' s review ofthis matter. 
As part of its oversight of the implementation of the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) 
program, the Commission has received questions regarding the defmition of the term " not-for­
profit-hospital" and its application to some health care providers. As you may know, "not-for­
profit-hospital" is a statutory term that appears in Section 254(h)(7)(B) of the Communications 
Act of 1934, as amended. Commission staff are actively reviewing questions about the term' s 
defmition and seek to reach a determination in as expeditious a manner as possible. In general, it 
is important that the types of health care consortia envisioned by the HCF program have the 
flexibility to include as members those entities which will provide as broad an array oftelehealth 
and telemedicine applications as possible, while also ensuring the program maintains sufficient 
funding to aid the beneficiaries for which it is primarily intended: rural health care providers. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if l can be of any further 
assistance. 
Sincerely, 
Tom Wheeler 
F EDERAL COMMUN ICATIONS COMMISSION 
W ASHI NGTON 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Jackie Walorski 
U.S. House of Representatives 
419 Cannon House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congresswoman Walorski: 
September 19, 2014 
Thank you for your letter urging the Commission to clarify the meaning of the term "not­
for-profit hospital." Your views are important to me and will be considered as part of the 
Commission's review of this matter. 
As part of its oversight of the implementation ofthe Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) 
program, the Commission has received questions regarding the defmition of the term "not-for­
profit-hospital" and its application to some health care providers. As you may know, "not-for­
profit-hospital" is a statutory term that appears in Section 254(h)(7)(B) of the Communications 
Act of 1934, as amended. Commission staff are actively reviewing questions about the term's 
defmition and seek to reach a determination in as expeditious a manner as possible. In general, it 
is important that the types of health care consortia envisioned by the HCF program have the 
flexibility to include as members those entities which will provide as broad an array oftelehealth 
and telemedicine applications as possible, while also ensuring the program maintains sufficient 
funding to aid the beneficiaries for which it is primarily intended: rural health care providers. 
1 appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further 
assistance.