Wireline Competition Bureau Provides Guidance on the Implementation Schedule for Reforms Adopted by the Rural Health Care Program Promoting Telehealth Report and Order, 3044-3045 [2020-00759]

Download as PDF 3044 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 12 / Friday, January 17, 2020 / Notices FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [ER–FRL–9048–9] Environmental Impact Statements; Notice of Availability Weekly receipt of Environmental Impact Statements Filed January 6, 2020 10 a.m. EST, Through January 13, 2020 10 a.m. EST Pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.9 Responsible Agency: Office of Federal Activities, General Information 202– 564–5632 or https://www.epa.gov/nepa/ . Section 309(a) of the Clean Air Act requires that EPA make public its comments on EISs issued by other Federal agencies. EPA’s comment letters on EISs are available at: https:// cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-public/ action/eis/search. EIS No. 20200006, Final Supplement, Caltrans, CA, State Route 241/91 Tolled Express Lane Connector Project, Review Period Ends: 02/18/ 2020, Contact: Smita Deshpande 657– 328–6151 EIS No. 20200007, Final, USACE, MS, Bayou Casotte Harbor Channel Improvement Project, Review Period Ends: 02/18/2020, Contact: Jennifer Jacobson 251–690–2724 EIS No. 20200008, Draft, USFS, NM, Gila National Forest Draft Revised Forest Plan, Comment Period Ends: 04/16/2020, Contact: Jenny Natharius 575–388–8483 Dated: January 13, 2020. Robert Tomiak, Director, Office of Federal Activities. [FR Doc. 2020–00720 Filed 1–16–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [WC Docket No. 17–310; DA 19–1253; FRS 16373] Wireline Competition Bureau Provides Guidance on the Implementation Schedule for Reforms Adopted by the Rural Health Care Program Promoting Telehealth Report and Order Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice. lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (the Commission or FCC) announces the intended schedule for the newly adopted reforms in the Rural Health Care Promoting Telehealth Report and Order. SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:20 Jan 16, 2020 Jkt 250001 William Layton, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418–0868 or via email at William.Layton@fcc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission’s Public Notice in WC Docket No. 17–310; DA 19–1253, released December 10, 2019. The full text of this document is available for public inspection during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Room CY–A257, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554 or at the following internet address: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/ attachments/DA-19-1253A1.pdf. On August 20, 2019, the Commission released a Report and Order reforming the rules for the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program to promote transparency and predictability, and further the efficient allocation of limited program resources. The Commission stated the adopted reforms would generally become effective, unless otherwise indicated, 30 days after publication of both the Rural Health Care Promoting Telehealth Report and Order (Order), FCC 19–78 and the Federal Register final rule summary (84 FR 54952, October 11, 2019; effective November 12, 2019). The Commission separately indicated when particular reforms would apply in funding year 2020 versus funding year 2021, and provided an implementation schedule summary ‘‘to ease the burden on program applicants.’’ The Commission noted, however, that, to the extent reforms require review pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, such reforms would take effect immediately upon announcement in the Federal Register of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. To provide further guidance to RHC Program participants, the following is the intended implementation schedule for the newly adopted reforms: Funding Year 2020 Competitive Bidding (January 1, 2020) • Similar services evaluated based on advertised speeds 30% above or below the speed of the requested service, Order at paras. 15–16; and • Revised and harmonized competitive bidding certifications, Order at paras. 156, 157, 172, 200; 47 CFR 54.622(e)(1)(i) through (ix). Opening of Funding Year 2020 Application Window (February 1, 2020) • Elimination of limitation on support for satellite services, Order at paras. 92–97; PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • All Healthcare Connect Fund consortia must comply with majorityrural requirement, Order at paras. 147– 49; • Prohibition on directly or indirectly soliciting or accepting gifts, Order at paras. 166–69; 47 CFR 54.622(h)(1) through (4); • Extension of Healthcare Connect Fund Program competitive bidding exemptions to the Telecommunications Program, Order at paras. 163–65; 47 CFR 54.622(i)(1) through (5); and • Revised and harmonized funding request certifications, Order at paras. 156, 168, 170, 172, 200; 47 CFR 54.623(a)(1)(i) through (x). Start of Funding Year 2020 (July 1, 2020) • Annual inflation adjustment of $150 million cap on multi-year commitments and upfront payments, Order at paras. 138–140; 47 CFR 54.619(a)(1) through (2); • Prioritization of funding if demand exceeds the annual funding cap, Order at paras. 107–143; 47 CFR 54.621(b); • Program-wide service delivery deadline, Order at paras. 180–82; 47 CFR 54.626(a); • Program-wide invoice deadline, Order at paras. 188–89; 47 CFR 54.627(a); and • Revised and harmonized invoice certifications for applicants and service providers, Order at paras. 168, 170, 172, 192–93, 200; 47 CFR 54.627(c)(3), (d). FY 2021 Competitive Bidding (July 1, 2020) • Competitive bidding begins on July 1 prior to the start of the applicable funding year, Order at paras. 173–75; • Reformed method of determining urban and rural rates by the Administrator, including publishing median urban and rural rates for eligible services in a publicly available database, Order at paras. 21–67, 76–91; 47 CFR 54.604(a) through (b), 54.605(a) through (b); • New standard of review for seeking a waiver of median rural rate determined by the Administrator, Order at paras. 68–75; 47 CFR 54.605(c); • Establish expanded consultant registration process, Order at paras. 170–71; • Applicants must list the services for which they are seeking bids rather than what they need services to do*, Order at paras. 154–55; 47 CFR 54.622(d); • Applicants must specify minimum requirements for weighted bid evaluation criteria, including whether they require service level guarantees*, Order at para. 158; 47 CFR 54.622(d); • Applicants must specify any disqualification factors that may be used E:\FR\FM\17JAN1.SGM 17JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 12 / Friday, January 17, 2020 / Notices to remove bids from consideration*, Order at para. 158; 47 CFR 54.622(d)); • Applicants must provide details of aggregate purchase arrangements with other entities*, Order at para. 157; 47 CFR 54.622(e)(2)); and • Applicants must submit declaration of third-party assistance with competitive bidding form*, Order at paras. 158, 170; 47 CFR 54.622(e)(4)). The Order anticipated that the five foregoing reforms marked with an asterisk (*) would be implemented in funding year 2020. More time is required to obtain PRA approval of the rule changes from OMB, however. These reforms will, therefore, go into effect for funding year 2021. Opening of Funding Year 2021 Application Window • Requirement that USAC open an initial application filing window with an end date no later than 90 days prior to the start of the funding year, Order at paras. 176–79; 47 CFR 54.621(a); • Elimination of distance-based support in the Telecommunications Program, Order at paras. 98–101; and • Revised and harmonized programwide documentation requirements for competitive bidding and funding requests, Order at paras. 156, 158, 172, 200; 47 CFR 54.622(e)(3) through (5), 54.623(a)(3). Start of Funding Year 2021 (July 1, 2021) lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES • Requirement that all Healthcare Connect Fund applicants submit an annual report, 47 CFR 54.618(b). • Service providers must submit declarations of third-party assistance with invoices*, Order at para. 170; • Program-wide requirements for site and service substitutions and Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) changes*, Order at paras. 194–99; 47 CFR 54.624, 54.625; • One-time 120-day extension of the program-wide invoice deadline*, Order at paras. 190–91; 47 CFR 54.627(b); and • Ability to seek an extension of the program-wide service delivery deadline*, Order at paras. 183–87; 47 CFR 54.626(b). The Order anticipated that the four foregoing reforms marked with an asterisk (*) would be implemented in funding year 2020. More time is required to obtain PRA approval of the rule changes from OMB, however. These reforms will, therefore, go into effect for funding year 2021. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:20 Jan 16, 2020 Jkt 250001 Federal Communications Commission. Ryan Palmer, Division Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau. [FR Doc. 2020–00759 Filed 1–16–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION Sunshine Act Meeting FEDERAL REGISTER CITATION NOTICE OF PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT: 85 FR 1156. PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED TIME AND DATE OF THE MEETING: Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. This meeting also discussed: Matters relating to internal personnel decisions, or internal rules and practices. * * * * * CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION: Judith Ingram, Press Officer, Telephone: (202) 694–1220. CHANGES IN THE MEETING: Laura E. Sinram, Acting Secretary and Clerk of the Commission. [FR Doc. 2020–00813 Filed 1–15–20; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 6715–01–P FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION Notice of Agreements Filed The Commission hereby gives notice of the filing of the following agreement under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreement to the Secretary by email at Secretary@fmc.gov, or by mail, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within twelve days of the date this notice appears in the Federal Register. Copies of agreements are available through the Commission’s website (www.fmc.gov) or by contacting the Office of Agreements at (202) 523–5793 or tradeanalysis@ fmc.gov. Agreement No.: 011980–003. Agreement Name: South Atlantic Chassis Pool Agreement. Parties: Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association, Inc.; Consolidated Chassis Management LLC, Georgia Ports Authority; South Carolina State Ports Authority; Maersk Line A/S; Hamburg-Sud; CMA CGM S.A.; APL Co. Pte. Ltd.; American President Lines, Ltd.; COSCO Shipping Lines Co., Ltd.; Hapag-Lloyd AG; Hapag-Lloyd USA LLC; Evergreen Line Joint Service Agreement; Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd.; Orient Overseas Container PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3045 Line Limited; Ocean Network Express Pte., Ltd.; MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, S.A.; Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.; and Crowley Maritime Corporation. Filing Party: Joshua Stein; Cozen O’Connor. Synopsis: The amendment adds Jacksonville Port Authority and North Carolina State Ports Authority as parties to the Agreement, and revises voting procedures with respect to membership in the Agreement. Proposed Effective Date: 2/24/2020. Location: https://fmcinet/ Fmc.Agreements.Web/Public/ AgreementHistory/464. Dated: January 14, 2020. Rachel Dickon, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2020–00719 Filed 1–16–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6731–AA–P FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM Agency Information Collection Activities: Announcement of Board Approval Under Delegated Authority and Submission to OMB Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. SUMMARY: The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) is adopting a proposal to extend for three years, without revision, the Recordkeeping and Disclosure Requirements Associated with Regulation RR (FR RR; OMB No. 7100– 0372).1 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Federal Reserve Board Clearance Officer—Nuha Elmaghrabi—Office of the Chief Data Officer, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551, (202) 452–3829. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Desk Officer—Shagufta Ahmed— Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503, or by fax to (202) 395–6974. A copy of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) OMB submission, including the reporting form and instructions, supporting statement, and other documentation will be placed into OMB’s public docket files. These documents also are available on the AGENCY: 1 The internal Agency Tracking Number previously assigned by the Board to this information collection was ‘‘Reg RR.’’ The Board is changing the internal Agency Tracking Number to ‘‘FR RR’’ for the purpose of consistency. E:\FR\FM\17JAN1.SGM 17JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 12 (Friday, January 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3044-3045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00759]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[WC Docket No. 17-310; DA 19-1253; FRS 16373]


Wireline Competition Bureau Provides Guidance on the 
Implementation Schedule for Reforms Adopted by the Rural Health Care 
Program Promoting Telehealth Report and Order

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (the 
Commission or FCC) announces the intended schedule for the newly 
adopted reforms in the Rural Health Care Promoting Telehealth Report 
and Order.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Layton, Telecommunications 
Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-0868 
or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Public 
Notice in WC Docket No. 17-310; DA 19-1253, released December 10, 2019. 
The full text of this document is available for public inspection 
during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Room CY-
A257, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554 or at the following 
internet address: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-19-1253A1.pdf.
    On August 20, 2019, the Commission released a Report and Order 
reforming the rules for the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program to promote 
transparency and predictability, and further the efficient allocation 
of limited program resources. The Commission stated the adopted reforms 
would generally become effective, unless otherwise indicated, 30 days 
after publication of both the Rural Health Care Promoting Telehealth 
Report and Order (Order), FCC 19-78 and the Federal Register final rule 
summary (84 FR 54952, October 11, 2019; effective November 12, 2019). 
The Commission separately indicated when particular reforms would apply 
in funding year 2020 versus funding year 2021, and provided an 
implementation schedule summary ``to ease the burden on program 
applicants.'' The Commission noted, however, that, to the extent 
reforms require review pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 
1995, such reforms would take effect immediately upon announcement in 
the Federal Register of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval.
    To provide further guidance to RHC Program participants, the 
following is the intended implementation schedule for the newly adopted 
reforms:

Funding Year 2020 Competitive Bidding (January 1, 2020)

     Similar services evaluated based on advertised speeds 30% 
above or below the speed of the requested service, Order at paras. 15-
16; and
     Revised and harmonized competitive bidding certifications, 
Order at paras. 156, 157, 172, 200; 47 CFR 54.622(e)(1)(i) through 
(ix).

Opening of Funding Year 2020 Application Window (February 1, 2020)

     Elimination of limitation on support for satellite 
services, Order at paras. 92-97;
     All Healthcare Connect Fund consortia must comply with 
majority-rural requirement, Order at paras. 147-49;
     Prohibition on directly or indirectly soliciting or 
accepting gifts, Order at paras. 166-69; 47 CFR 54.622(h)(1) through 
(4);
     Extension of Healthcare Connect Fund Program competitive 
bidding exemptions to the Telecommunications Program, Order at paras. 
163-65; 47 CFR 54.622(i)(1) through (5); and
     Revised and harmonized funding request certifications, 
Order at paras. 156, 168, 170, 172, 200; 47 CFR 54.623(a)(1)(i) through 
(x).

Start of Funding Year 2020 (July 1, 2020)

     Annual inflation adjustment of $150 million cap on multi-
year commitments and upfront payments, Order at paras. 138-140; 47 CFR 
54.619(a)(1) through (2);
     Prioritization of funding if demand exceeds the annual 
funding cap, Order at paras. 107-143; 47 CFR 54.621(b);
     Program-wide service delivery deadline, Order at paras. 
180-82; 47 CFR 54.626(a);
     Program-wide invoice deadline, Order at paras. 188-89; 47 
CFR 54.627(a); and
     Revised and harmonized invoice certifications for 
applicants and service providers, Order at paras. 168, 170, 172, 192-
93, 200; 47 CFR 54.627(c)(3), (d).

FY 2021 Competitive Bidding (July 1, 2020)

     Competitive bidding begins on July 1 prior to the start of 
the applicable funding year, Order at paras. 173-75;
     Reformed method of determining urban and rural rates by 
the Administrator, including publishing median urban and rural rates 
for eligible services in a publicly available database, Order at paras. 
21-67, 76-91; 47 CFR 54.604(a) through (b), 54.605(a) through (b);
     New standard of review for seeking a waiver of median 
rural rate determined by the Administrator, Order at paras. 68-75; 47 
CFR 54.605(c);
     Establish expanded consultant registration process, Order 
at paras. 170-71;
     Applicants must list the services for which they are 
seeking bids rather than what they need services to do*, Order at 
paras. 154-55; 47 CFR 54.622(d);
     Applicants must specify minimum requirements for weighted 
bid evaluation criteria, including whether they require service level 
guarantees*, Order at para. 158; 47 CFR 54.622(d);
     Applicants must specify any disqualification factors that 
may be used

[[Page 3045]]

to remove bids from consideration*, Order at para. 158; 47 CFR 
54.622(d));
     Applicants must provide details of aggregate purchase 
arrangements with other entities*, Order at para. 157; 47 CFR 
54.622(e)(2)); and
     Applicants must submit declaration of third-party 
assistance with competitive bidding form*, Order at paras. 158, 170; 47 
CFR 54.622(e)(4)).

The Order anticipated that the five foregoing reforms marked with an 
asterisk (*) would be implemented in funding year 2020. More time is 
required to obtain PRA approval of the rule changes from OMB, however. 
These reforms will, therefore, go into effect for funding year 2021.

Opening of Funding Year 2021 Application Window

     Requirement that USAC open an initial application filing 
window with an end date no later than 90 days prior to the start of the 
funding year, Order at paras. 176-79; 47 CFR 54.621(a);
     Elimination of distance-based support in the 
Telecommunications Program, Order at paras. 98-101; and
     Revised and harmonized program-wide documentation 
requirements for competitive bidding and funding requests, Order at 
paras. 156, 158, 172, 200; 47 CFR 54.622(e)(3) through (5), 
54.623(a)(3).

Start of Funding Year 2021 (July 1, 2021)

     Requirement that all Healthcare Connect Fund applicants 
submit an annual report, 47 CFR 54.618(b).
     Service providers must submit declarations of third-party 
assistance with invoices*, Order at para. 170;
     Program-wide requirements for site and service 
substitutions and Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) 
changes*, Order at paras. 194-99; 47 CFR 54.624, 54.625;
     One-time 120-day extension of the program-wide invoice 
deadline*, Order at paras. 190-91; 47 CFR 54.627(b); and
     Ability to seek an extension of the program-wide service 
delivery deadline*, Order at paras. 183-87; 47 CFR 54.626(b).

The Order anticipated that the four foregoing reforms marked with an 
asterisk (*) would be implemented in funding year 2020. More time is 
required to obtain PRA approval of the rule changes from OMB, however. 
These reforms will, therefore, go into effect for funding year 2021.

Federal Communications Commission.
Ryan Palmer,
Division Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline 
Competition Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2020-00759 Filed 1-16-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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