324

                               WASHINGTON,  DC 20510 

                                  May 17, 2021 

The Honorable Jessica Rosenworcel         The Honorable Radha Sekar  
Chairperson                               Chief Executive Officer 
Federal Communications Commission         Universal Service Administrative Company 
445 12th Street, SW                       700 12th Street, NW, Suite 900 
Washington, DC 20554                      Washington, DC 20005 

Dear Chairperson Rosenworcel and Ms. Sekar: 

We write to express our support of Children’s Hospital Colorado’s (Children’s Colorado) 
application for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) COVID-19 Telehealth Program. 
We request your consideration of Children’s Colorado’s application, as it underscores the needs 
of an essential health care provider as we continue the fight against Coronavirus Disease 2019 
(COVID-19).  

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which included an additional $249.95 million for 
the FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program to support health care providers’ efforts to address the 
coronavirus by providing telecommunications services, information services, and devices 
necessary for telehealth services.  

In response to the pandemic, Children’s Colorado—in part through funding from the FCC 
COVID-19 Telehealth Program after enactment of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic 
Security (CARES) Act—rapidly undertook a massive mobilization of telehealth treatment. 
Children’s Colorado has grown their telehealth volume from an average of 20 visits per day in 
2019 to roughly 1,000 visits per day in 2021. Social distancing in order to quell community 
spread will remain vitally important across our state, and telehealth can facilitate safe access to 
care while limiting the spread of the virus.  

Additional support from the FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program would enable Children’s 
Colorado to expand their existing telehealth infrastructure and establish programs that would 
allow patients and families to stay in their communities for care. Funds would ensure Children’s 
Colorado’s expertise is readily available to anyone who could benefit no matter where they live. 

Specifically, they are seeking funds for the following: 

   •  InTouch telehealth carts to partner with community hospitals in the region to support
      access to pediatric intensivists and neonatal/pediatric specialists for community hospital
      NICUs and inpatient units. This will allow patients to remain close to home and avoid
      costly transfers to Children’s Colorado or other outside facilities.
   •  Operational costs to maintain and expand their portfolio of telehealth services, including
      annual and individual licensing costs and subscriptions.


                                       1 

   •  Devices with cellular capabilities to ensure patient-families in the rural communities
      across the region can receive specialty care from Children’s Colorado in their homes
      when Wi-Fi access isn’t available due to their location.
   •  Devices and a software platform to support the ability of immediate and extended
      family members to see their loved ones at Children’s Colorado’s NICU.

Therefore, we encourage you to give the application submitted by the Children’s Hospital 
Colorado every appropriate consideration consistent with all applicable laws and regulations. 
Thank you for your consideration, and please notify our offices of any funds awarded. 

Sincerely, 


_________________________                 _________________________ 
Michael F. Bennet                         John Hickenlooper 
United States Senator                     United States Senator 


                                      2