[{"innerBlocks":[],"name":"core\/freeform","postId":2592,"blockType":{"name":"core\/freeform","keywords":[],"attributes":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"providesContext":[],"usesContext":[],"selectors":[],"supports":{"className":false,"customClassName":false,"reusable":false},"styles":[],"variations":[],"apiVersion":3,"title":"Classic","description":"Use the classic WordPress editor.","category":"text"},"originalContent":"President Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to \u201cuse all viable tools\u201d to accelerate the deployment and adoption of high-speed broadband connectivity in rural parts of the country, a directive that\u2019s expected to offer a boost to healthcare facilities.

\u201cAmericans need access to reliable, affordable broadband internet service to succeed in today's information-driven global economy,\u201d states the executive order<\/a> published today in the Federal Register<\/i>. \u201cCurrently, too many American citizens and businesses still lack access to this basic tool of modern economic connectivity.\u201d

This lack of access to high-speed Internet services in rural America hinders the ability of communities to \u201cextend the reach of affordable, high-quality healthcare,\u201d according to the order. By increasing rural provider access to modern broadband internet service, the Trump administration hopes to overcome some of the hurdles to healthcare delivery in these isolated and underserved communities by enabling clinicians to leverage broadband-enabled health technologies.

The executive order directs federal agencies to \u201cenable sustainable rural broadband infrastructure projects\u201d by reducing barriers to capital investment, removing obstacles to broadband services, as well as streamlining and expediting the processing and review of requests to locate broadband facilities on federal property.

The order comes as the Federal Communications Commission last week issued a notice of proposed rulemaking seeking public comment on the agency\u2019s proposal to increase the $400 million annual cap for the Rural Health Care Program, which provides funding for telecommunications and broadband services to rural communities to support telemedicine networks.

Also See<\/b>: FCC looks to expand $400M cap for Rural Health Care Program<\/a>

\u201cThe current cap on the RHC Program has remained at $400 million since its inception in 1997,\u201d notes the FCC\u2019s notice of proposed rulemaking. \u201cRHC Program demand, however, exceeded the cap in FY 2016 and is expected to exceed the cap in FY 2017 and in future years. The proration that comes with capped funding may be especially hard on small, rural healthcare providers with limited budgets, and so the Commission examines whether a cap of $400 million is an appropriate level of funding for the RHC Program going forward.\u201d

In addition to the annual cap, the FCC is seeking comment on whether to prioritize requests from healthcare providers based on the remoteness of the area they serve.

\u201cGiven the directive from Congress to support eligible rural healthcare providers, should the Commission consider using gradations of rurality to prioritize funding requests, ranking areas as extremely rural, rural, less rural and urban, and prioritizing Program support first to the most rural areas?\u201d asks the notice of proposed rulemaking.","saveContent":"President Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to \u201cuse all viable tools\u201d to accelerate the deployment and adoption of high-speed broadband connectivity in rural parts of the country, a directive that\u2019s expected to offer a boost to healthcare facilities.

\u201cAmericans need access to reliable, affordable broadband internet service to succeed in today's information-driven global economy,\u201d states the executive order<\/a> published today in the Federal Register<\/i>. \u201cCurrently, too many American citizens and businesses still lack access to this basic tool of modern economic connectivity.\u201d

This lack of access to high-speed Internet services in rural America hinders the ability of communities to \u201cextend the reach of affordable, high-quality healthcare,\u201d according to the order. By increasing rural provider access to modern broadband internet service, the Trump administration hopes to overcome some of the hurdles to healthcare delivery in these isolated and underserved communities by enabling clinicians to leverage broadband-enabled health technologies.

The executive order directs federal agencies to \u201cenable sustainable rural broadband infrastructure projects\u201d by reducing barriers to capital investment, removing obstacles to broadband services, as well as streamlining and expediting the processing and review of requests to locate broadband facilities on federal property.

The order comes as the Federal Communications Commission last week issued a notice of proposed rulemaking seeking public comment on the agency\u2019s proposal to increase the $400 million annual cap for the Rural Health Care Program, which provides funding for telecommunications and broadband services to rural communities to support telemedicine networks.

Also See<\/b>: FCC looks to expand $400M cap for Rural Health Care Program<\/a>

\u201cThe current cap on the RHC Program has remained at $400 million since its inception in 1997,\u201d notes the FCC\u2019s notice of proposed rulemaking. \u201cRHC Program demand, however, exceeded the cap in FY 2016 and is expected to exceed the cap in FY 2017 and in future years. The proration that comes with capped funding may be especially hard on small, rural healthcare providers with limited budgets, and so the Commission examines whether a cap of $400 million is an appropriate level of funding for the RHC Program going forward.\u201d

In addition to the annual cap, the FCC is seeking comment on whether to prioritize requests from healthcare providers based on the remoteness of the area they serve.

\u201cGiven the directive from Congress to support eligible rural healthcare providers, should the Commission consider using gradations of rurality to prioritize funding requests, ranking areas as extremely rural, rural, less rural and urban, and prioritizing Program support first to the most rural areas?\u201d asks the notice of proposed rulemaking.","order":0,"get_parent":{},"attributes":[],"attributesType":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"dynamicContent":""}]

Trump executive order to aid rural broadband will help providers

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