FCC Readies for the Next Round of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program

In this Report and Order, we take the next step toward committing funding through the COVID-19 Telehealth Program (Program) by finding it is in the public interest to expand the administrative responsibilities of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to include the Program. In March 2020, Congress allocated $200 million to the Federal Communications Commission to establish a program to help health care providers offer telehealth and connected care services and connected devices to patients at their homes or mobile locations in response to the COVID19 pandemic. The FCC established the Program and committed this funding to health care providers across the country. In December 2020, Congress appropriated an additional $249.95 million for a second round of funding for the Program under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.