FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN August 3, 2018 The Honorable Roger Wicker United States Senate 555 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Wicker: Thank you for your letter regarding the importance of high-quality, affordable health care in rural communities throughout the United States. I agree with you that telemedicine and wireless technologies have great potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce the costs of our health care system. That's why just this week, with your encouragement and under the leadership of Commissioner Brendan Carr, the Commission took steps toward creating a $100 million Connected Care pilot program that would facilitate broader participation by low-income families and veterans in telemedicine programs. That's why in June, the Commission increased funding for the Universal Service Fund's Rural Health Care program by $171 million a year. That's why the Commission's Connect2Health Task Force has partnered with the National Cancer Institute to study how affordable, available broadband connectivity can impact health care delivery and patient health. And that's why the Commission has examined the potential for Wireless Medical Telemetry Services in different spectrum bands. I agree with you that introducing Wireless Medical Telemetry Services in the 1.4 GHz band is an innovative opportunity. As you may know, TerreStar acquired licenses in that band in 2007 and 2008. Over the subsequent decade, it failed to construct facilities and put that public resource to use for consumers' benefit-resulting in the termination of those licenses under longstanding Commission rules. TerreStar has nonetheless asked the Commission to reinstate these terminated licenses. We have received feedback in the record of that proceeding, and I look forward to reviewing that record to determine the best way forward for the medical community and the American people. I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, % AjitV. Pai