FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
                                         WASHINGTON 

   
      OFFICE OF THE 
ACTING CHAIRWOMAN                                   July 23, 2021 
         
        The Honorable Drew Ferguson  
        U.S. House of Representatives  
        1032 Longworth House Office Building  
        Washington, DC 20515   

        Dear Congressman Ferguson:  

              Thank you for your letter supporting the application of McIntosh Trail Community 
        Service Board for the second round of funding from the Federal Communications Commission’s 
        COVID-19 Telehealth Program.  

             This effort builds on the initial success of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, in which 
       the Commission awarded $200 million to 539 winning applications to help with the rapid 
       expansion of telehealth and connected care services provided in response to the COVID-19 
       pandemic.  In December 2020, Congress appropriated an additional $249.95 million to the 
       program under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, along with specific statutory 
       provisions regarding its implementation during the second round.    

             Pursuant to Congress’ directives, the Commission sought comment on and adopted rules 
       regarding the metrics used to evaluate applications, which, pursuant to statutory direction, 
       consider whether a health care provider filed an application, but did not receive funding, during 
       the initial round of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program.  The nine additional application metrics 
       that the agency adopted take into consideration objective factors about the health care providers, 
       including whether they qualify as a critical access hospital and if they are located in a Tribal, 
       rural, or low-income area.  Pursuant to congressional direction, funding will be awarded to a 
       health care provider in each state, as well as each territory and the District of Columbia.  The 
       Commission adopted the policies for the second round on March 30 and on April 15 announced a 
       7-day application window, which opened at 12:00 pm ET on April 29 and closed at 12:00 pm ET 
       on May 6, 2021.  Applications are currently under review.  

             The application of McIntosh Trail Community Service Board was timely received and is 
       under review, and we appreciate your statement of support.  All applications will be scored using 
       the same objective criteria by relying on publicly available data.  In addition, all applicants will 
       receive a status update when the Commission announces the funding awards from the initial 
       commitment phase, which will total at least $150 million.  Applicants that were not funded 
       during the initial commitment phase will have 10 days to supplement their application.  After 
       these supplemental submissions have been reviewed, the remaining applications will be re-
       ranked and funded from highest to lowest score until all program funds are exhausted.  

        

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      I hope this information is helpful.  Please let me know if I can be of any further 
assistance.  

                                    Sincerely, 

                                                                     
                                    Jessica Rosenworcel