STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER DEBORAH TAYLOR TATE
Re:  In the Matter of Rural Health Care Support Mechanism, WC Docket No. 02-60
At Congress’ direction, the Commission implemented a Rural Health Care 
support mechanism supported within the Universal Service Fund, which provides 
reduced rates to rural health care providers for their telecommunications and Internet 
services.  Although this rural health care support program has been in place for nearly 10 
years, unfortunately, it has been greatly underutilized.
I therefore was extremely supportive when the Chairman proposed that the 
Commission establish a Rural Health Care Pilot Program (Pilot Program) to examine how 
Rural Health Care support mechanism funds can be used to enhance public and non-
profit health care providers’ access to advanced telecommunications and information 
services. The response was overwhelming.  The Commission received 81 applications 
representing approximately 6,800 health care facilities from 43 states and three United 
States territories.
I am very pleased by our decision today to select 69 applicants for participation in 
the Pilot Program.  These applicants are selected because their overall qualifications are 
consistent with the goals of the Pilot Program to stimulate deployment of the broadband 
infrastructure necessary to support innovative telehealth and, in particular, telemedicine 
services to those areas of the country where the need for those benefits is most acute.  
I am especially proud to see three projects from my home state of Tennessee 
receive funding- Erlanger Health System, Mountain States Health Alliance, and the 
Tennessee Telehealth Network.  Tennessee continues to be in the forefront on extending 
telemedicine- and the incredible opportunities that it provides- to all of its citizens. 
I am committed to taking whatever steps possible to foster access to a healthcare 
network that brings 21st century medicine to every corner of the nation.  It has been my 
vision that one day all healthcare facilities in the nation are connected to each other with 
broadband facilities so that pioneering communities, physicians, and hospitals can show 
that health care can be transformed by technology no matter where a patient lives.  
Among other benefits, broadband connectivity among healthcare providers will assist the 
President’s goal of implementing electronic medical records nationwide.  Moreover, 
broadband connectivity and the ability to share information among healthcare providers 
would also likely assist in addressing a national crisis, whether terrorist, natural or a 
pandemic flu out break. 
It has been exciting for me to see first-hand how new medical technologies—
when combined with broadband—can enable everything from remote surgery in the 
mountains of Appalachia to telepsychiatry and teledentistry in remote parts of Alaska. I 
have witnessed first-hand how the technology at both a research hospital and our most 
remote communities serves as the bridge not only to improve people’s access to 
healthcare, but also to narrow the miles between doctor and patient, improve 
administrative efficiencies, and reduce the cost to the patient and our healthcare systems.  
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 or research centers. I look forward to visiting some of these new and 
innovative projects which literally enable innovations in technology to improve and 
enhance the lives of real people and especially those who live in rural areas of this great 
country.