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USAC Organization

Michigan Telemedicine Policy Group January 8, 2003 Universal Service Support for Rural Health Care Telecommunications William England Universal Service Administrative Company Rural Health Division www.rhc.universalservice.org, ph 800-229-5476. USAC Organization. Eligibility.

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USAC Organization

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  1. Michigan Telemedicine Policy GroupJanuary 8, 2003Universal Service Support for Rural Health Care Telecommunications William EnglandUniversal Service Administrative CompanyRural Health Divisionwww.rhc.universalservice.org, ph 800-229-5476

  2. USAC Organization

  3. Eligibility Rural public and non-profit health care providers • post-secondary health care educational institution or medical school • community health center • community mental health center • local health department or agency • not-for-profit hospital • rural health clinic

  4. Telecommunication Services Eligible services (used to provide health care): • T3 & fractional T3 • T1 & fractional T1 • ISDN • Frame relay • Link extension • Other telecom svcs Equipment not eligible. Service must be from telecom carrier and must post Form 465 28 days before choosing carrier.

  5. Avg Monthly Support & HCP Cost USAC*HCPService $600 $310 T-1 1.544 Mbps $384 $189 Frame Relay 1.544 Mbps $575 $470 Frame Relay 256 Kbps $180 $248 Frame Relay 56 Kbps $124 $86 ISDN 128 Kbps $428 $251 Average (USAC share 63%) * Year 2001 averages (excludes Alaska.) Actual support depends on distance or urban/rural difference.

  6. Supported Applicants by Type HCP TypeYear 98Year 99Year 00Yr 01* Yr 02* Hospital 199 275 302 349 45 Rural Health Clinic 187 221 308 456 62 Comm Health Center 34 75 78 87 14 Comm Mental Hlth Ctr 50 43 30 77 7 Local Health Dept. 3 10 21 184 42 Educational Institution 10 9 4 0 0 Total 483 633 743 1153 170 * Yr 2001 about 95% complete, Yr 2002 about 15% complete.

  7. On 5/15/02, FCC Published NPRM for Rural Health Care Support Mechanism • Sought comments (due 7/1/02, reply 7/29/02) on: • Improving and simplifying program operation. • Increasing # of eligible entities (within $400M cap). • Eligibility of rural HCPs that have other functions beyond those directly listed in statute. • Whether/how to provide Internet access discounts. • Whether/how to change support calculations including: • What is comparable service for urban/rural difference? • Should rate be that of nearest large city? • What should be Maximum Allowable Distance?

  8. Comments Filed on NPRM for Rural Health Care Support Mechanism • 75 comments and 15 reply comments were filed. • Most HCPs supported modification of program in directions mentioned in NPRM. • Some carriers and others cautioned that program not be expanded beyond original intent. • Many comments urged revising of how support is calculated for Pacific territories. • Final rule likely late spring. Effective date?

  9. Administrative Changes Being Considered for Rural Health Care Support Mechanism • Eliminate Form 468, merge into Form 466. • Post Urban Rates for use if rate not submitted by HCP. • Implement electronic submission of Form 466. • Implement electronic submission of telco invoices.

  10. Call Us WWW.RHC.UNIVERSALSERVICE.ORG 800-229-5476 M-F 8AM-8PM

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