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 Federal  Communications  Commission  FCC  06-  144 
 STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  DEBORAH  TAYLOR  TATE 
 Re:  In  the  Matter  of  Rural  Health  Care  Support  Mechanism,  WC  Docket  No.  02-  60 
 I  am  pleased  to  support  today’s  item  because  it  acknowledges  and  encourages  the  incredible  benefits  broadband  can  bring  to  our  nation’s  public  and  non-  profit  healthcare  facilities. 
 Section  254  of  the  Act  recognizes  the  importance  of  rural  health  care  facilities  to  the  deployment  of  broadband  throughout  our  nation.  The  item  we  adopt  today  helps  to  advance  that  goal.  The 
 pilot  program  initiated  by  today’s  item  is  an  inventive  approach  to  encourage  innovative  health  practices,  especially  in  the  rural  and  remote  areas  of  the  country  where  health  care  has  often  been 
 more  difficult  and  expensive  to  provide. 
 The  FCC  has  a  far  broader  role  in  health  care  than  most  Americans  think.  From  approving  waivers  for  specialized  implant  devices  to  promoting  the  advancement  of  broadband 
 networks  that  support  telehealth  services  spreading  the  reach  of  the  latest  health  technology  and  services.  It  has  been  exciting  for  me  to  see  first-  hand  how  new  technologies  combined  with 
 broadband  enable  everything  from  remote  surgery  to  telepsychiatry,  and  teledentistry.  I  have  witnessed  first-  hand  how  the  technology  at  both  a  research  hospital  and  one  of  the  most  remote 
 communities  in  the  U.  S.  links  up  and  works  together  not  only  to  improve  people’s  health  and  lives,  but  also  to  narrow  the  miles  between  doctor  and  patient. 


 Likewise,  with  regard  to  mental  health,  I  have  been  able  to  see  how  broadband  and  new  technologies  are  improving  access  to  behavioral  health  treatment  for  clients  in  the  most  rural  and 
 isolated  parts  of  our  nation.  Even  in  the  wilds  of  Alaska  –  hundreds  of  miles  from  anywhere  and  reachable  only  by  snowmobile,  airplane  or  dogsled  –  telepsychiatry  helps  psychiatrists  maintain 
 regular  contact  through  video  observation  and  live  interaction  with  their  patients.  Centerstone,  the  largest  behavioral  health  provider  in  Tennessee,  is  leading  efforts  toward  improved  outcomes 
 through  electronic  medical  records  and  sharing  research-  based  “best  practices”  with  mental  health  centers  across  the  country. 


 These  benefits  pertain,  of  course,  to  people  in  rural  and  remote  parts  of  our  country  who  will  benefit  from  the  access  to  specialists  and  research  that,  until  recently,  was  often  only 
 available  in  urban  centers.  We  must  also  keep  in  mind  that  these  technologies  will  also  keep  our  nation  on  the  leading  edge  of  our  rapidly  changing  world.  We  must  ensure  that  our  nation 
 remains  competitive  in  a  global  environment  including  not  only  technology  and  industry,  but  also  in  terms  of  consumer  welfare,  education,  and  health  care.  Today’s  item  promises  to  explore  a 
 way  to  further  support  the  broadband  networks  for  health  care  that  can  truly  make  a  difference  in  people’s  lives.  I  look  forward  to  hearing  and  seeing  exciting  ideas  and  projects  envisioned  by 
 rural  healthcare  providers,  which  in  turn,  will  hopefully  improve  the  care  patients  may  receive  no  matter  where  they  may  choose  to  live. 
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