[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1969-1970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00315]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[WC Docket No. 20-89; DA No. 20-1504; FRS 17363]
Wireline Competition Bureau and Office of The Managing Director
Set July 31, 2021 Invoicing Deadline for Covid-19 Telehealth Program
and Provide Post-Program Guidance
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau)
establishes an invoicing deadline for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program
and provide COVID-19 Telehealth Program funding Awardees with
additional information on the post-program report.
DATES: July 31, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit the post-program report template, identified
by WC Docket No. 20-89, by the following method:
Comments must be filed electronically using the Federal
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Communications Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System at: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/.
Effective March 19, 2020, and until further notice, the
Commission no longer accepts any hand or messenger delivered filings.
This is a temporary measure taken to help protect the health and safety
of individuals, and to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. See FCC
Announces Closure of FCC Headquarters Open Window and Change in Hand-
Delivery Policy, Public Notice, DA 20-304 (March 19, 2020), https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-closes-headquarters-open-window-and-changes-hand-delivery-policy.
People with Disabilities. To request materials in
accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print,
electronic files, audio format), send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or
call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530
(voice), 202-418-0432 (try).
For detailed instructions for submitting the template and
additional information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Minnock, Assistant Division
Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition
Bureau, stephanie.minnock@fcc.gov or 202-418-7400 or TTY: 202-418-0484.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Commission's
Public Notice in WC Docket No. 20-89; DA 20-1504 released December 18,
2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission's headquarters will
be closed to the general public until further notice. The full text of
this document is available at the following internet address: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-20-1504A1.pdf. For more information
about the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, please refer to the Commission's
website at www.fcc.gov/covid19telehealth.
I. Introduction
The Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) and the Office of the
Managing Director (OMD) establishes a July 31, 2021, invoicing deadline
for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. Also, COVID-19 Telehealth Program
funding awardees (Awardees) are provided with additional information on
the post-program report, which must be filed with the Commission no
later than January 31, 2022. Additionally, Awardees are reminded of the
program's recordkeeping and auditing requirements.
As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act,
Congress appropriated $200 million to the Federal Communications
Commission (Commission) ``to support efforts of health care providers
to address coronavirus by providing telecommunications services,
information services, and devices necessary to enable the provision of
telehealth services.'' On April 2, 2020, the Commission established the
COVID-19 Telehealth Program to administer the $200 million in
congressionally appropriated funding. The Commission issued funding
awards for 539 applications from April 16, 2020 through July 8, 2020,
when the appropriated $200 million budget was exhausted. WCB set an
initial deadline of September 30, 2020 for Awardees to purchase
eligible connected devices and implement eligible services, but
extended that deadline to December 31, 2020, after receiving multiple
requests from Awardees that needed more time to purchase connected
devices and/or implement services or that were experiencing delays.
II. Discussion
A. Invoicing Deadline. WCB and OMD developed a process for
reviewing Awardees' monthly invoicing forms and supporting
documentation. To further facilitate the administration of the COVID-19
Telehealth Program, the invoicing filing deadline is set for July 31,
2021. Awardees have until December 31, 2020 to purchase eligible
connected devices and implement eligible services, and can receive up
to six months of support for eligible services with monthly recurring
charges. An invoicing deadline is necessary for efficient
administration of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program and provides
certainty to Awardees. Thus, the deadline of seven months after the
purchase/implementation deadline of December 31, 2020 provides a
reasonable timeframe for Awardees to receive their eligible services
and connected devices and timely file their requests for reimbursement
along with supporting documentation to the Commission. Accordingly,
Awardees must file their requests for reimbursement for the cost of
eligible connected devices and/or telecommunications or information
services on or before July 31, 2021, in order to receive reimbursement
for eligible expenses under the COVID-19 Telehealth Program.
B. Post-Program Report. As part of the Report and Order, FCC 20-44,
the Commission stated that Awardees should provide a report to the
Commission on the effectiveness of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program
funding no later than six months after the conclusion of the COVID-19
Telehealth Program. Awardees, therefore, should submit their post-
program reports by January 31, 2022--six months after the invoicing
deadline. These reports will provide the Commission with important
feedback on whether and how the COVID-19 Telehealth Program funding
impacted health outcomes, patient treatment, health care facility
administration, and any other relevant aspects of Awardees' response to
COVID-19. Appended in the Public Notice is a post-program report
template, which contains a list of questions that Awardees should
respond to when developing their post-program report. Awardees are
encouraged to provide any additional feedback as part of the post-
program report. Once completed, Awardees should file their completed
report(s) in WC Docket No. 20-89 in the Commission's electronic comment
filing system, available at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/.
C. Program Rules and Reminders. As a reminder, Awardees must
maintain records related to their participation in the COVID-19
Telehealth Program for at least three years from the last date of
service under this program to demonstrate their compliance with program
requirements. Awardees must present any records related to their
participation in the COVID-19 Telehealth Program to the Commission or
its delegates upon request. Awardees may also be subject to compliance
audits to ensure compliance with rules and requirements for the COVID-
19 Telehealth Program. If audited, Awardees must provide documentation
related to their participation in the COVID-19 Telehealth Program.
Federal Communications Commission.
Cheryl L. Callahan, Assistant Chief,
Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2021-00315 Filed 1-8-21; 8:45 am]
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