Healthcare Providers

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Universal Service Fund - Rural Health Care Program

The Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible health care providers (HCPs) for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care.

The Rural Health Care Program is made up of two programs: the Healthcare Connect Fund and the Telecommunications Program.

View additional information from the FCC on the Rural Healthcare Program.

Healthcare Connect Fund

The Healthcare Connect Fund provides a 65% discount on eligible broadband connectivity expenses for eligible rural HCPs. Individual health care providers or a consortium, i.e., a group of HCPs that can be both rural and non-rural are eligible to apply.

Visit the Universal Service Administrative Company's website for more information.

View the FCC's Healthcare Connect Fund FAQ page for more information.

Telecommunications Program

The Telecommunications Program provides reduced rates to rural HCPs for telecommunications and voice services for telemedicine and telehealth. Eligible services are discounted at the difference in cost between urban and rural areas in your state.

USDA Distance Learning & Telemedicine

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program helps rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density.

For example, this program can link teachers and medical service providers in one area to students and patients in another.

Awards can range from $50,000 to $1,000,000 and funds may be used for audio, video, and interactive video equipment; computer hardware, network components, and software; acquisition of instructional programming; acquisition of technical assistance and instruction for using eligible equipment; and broadband facilities that support distant learning or telemedicine.

Recent Award in our Region

In October 2020, Palacios Community Medical Center received a $812,500 Distance Learning & Telemedicine grant to connect rural residents with virtual access to health care in a clinic, institution (Emergency Room/inpatient) and/or home setting. Through this connectivity, rural residents will have access to their hometown providers in “real-time” via a telecom connection provided by Palacios Community Medical Center.

Read of more DLT awards in Texas.

Strategic Considerations for Applications

Federal grant and subsidy programs always promote and advise potential applicants to take a partnership approach to expand the potential reach and likelihood of success for implementing projects and grant funds. Below are a list of potential partners to support developing an application: