FCC, HHS, and USDA Team Up for Rural Telehealth Initiative

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on the Rural Telehealth Initiative, a joint effort to collaborate and share information to address health disparities, resolve service provider challenges, and promote broadband services and technology to rural areas in America. This action delivers on President Donald Trump’s recently signed Executive Order on Improving Rural Health and Telehealth Access. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of telehealth in delivering quality healthcare to rural Americans. 

As part of this Memorandum of Understanding, the agencies intend to establish an interagency Rural Telehealth Initiative Task Force comprised of representatives from each agency. This Task Force will regularly meet to consider future recommendations or guidelines for this effort and exchange agency expertise, scientific and technical information, data, and publications.


FCC, HHS, and USDA Team Up for Rural Telehealth Initiative FCC, HHS, USDA Announce Rural Telehealth Partnership, New Task Force (mHealth Intelligence)