Promoting Telehealth in Rural America, 9295-9297 [2021-00588]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 28 / Friday, February 12, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
accordance with requirements of 1 CFR
51.5, EPA is finalizing the incorporation
by reference of the Wisconsin
Regulations described in the
amendments to 40 CFR part 52 set forth
below. EPA has made, and will continue
to make, these documents generally
available through www.regulations.gov,
and at the EPA Region 5 Office (please
contact the person identified in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this preamble for more information).
IV. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Under the Clean Air Act, the
Administrator is required to approve a
SIP submission that complies with the
provisions of the Clean Air Act and
applicable Federal regulations. 42
U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus,
in reviewing SIP submissions, EPA’s
role is to approve state choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of
the Clean Air Act. Accordingly, this
action merely approves state law as
meeting Federal requirements and does
not impose additional requirements
beyond those imposed by state law. For
that reason, this action:
• Is not a significant regulatory action
subject to review by the Office of
Management and Budget under
Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821,
January 21, 2011);
• Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82
FR 9339, February 2, 2017) regulatory
action because it is not a significant
regulatory action under Executive Order
12866;
• Does not impose an information
collection burden under the provisions
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
• Is certified as not having a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
• Does not contain any unfunded
mandate or significantly or uniquely
affect small governments, as described
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
• Does not have federalism
implications as specified in Executive
Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999);
• Is not an economically significant
regulatory action based on health or
safety risks subject to Executive Order
13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
• Is not a significant regulatory action
subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR
28355, May 22, 2001);
• Is not subject to requirements of
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:41 Feb 11, 2021
Jkt 253001
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
application of those requirements would
be inconsistent with the Clean Air Act;
and
• Does not provide EPA with the
discretionary authority to address, as
appropriate, disproportionate human
health or environmental effects, using
practicable and legally permissible
methods, under Executive Order 12898
(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
In addition, the SIP is not approved
to apply on any Indian reservation land
or in any other area where EPA or an
Indian tribe has demonstrated that a
tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of
Indian country, the rule does not have
tribal implications and will not impose
substantial direct costs on tribal
governments or preempt tribal law as
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
The Congressional Review Act, 5
U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides
that before a rule may take effect, the
agency promulgating the rule must
submit a rule report, which includes a
copy of the rule, to each House of the
Congress and to the Comptroller General
of the United States. EPA will submit a
report containing this action and other
required information to the U.S. Senate,
the U.S. House of Representatives, and
the Comptroller General of the United
States prior to publication of the rule in
the Federal Register. A major rule
cannot take effect until 60 days after it
is published in the Federal Register.
This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as
defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean
Air Act, petitions for judicial review of
this action must be filed in the United
States Court of Appeals for the
appropriate circuit by April 13, 2021.
Filing a petition for reconsideration by
the Administrator of this final rule does
not affect the finality of this action for
the purposes of judicial review nor does
it extend the time within which a
petition for judicial review may be filed,
and shall not postpone the effectiveness
of such rule or action. This action may
not be challenged later in proceedings to
enforce its requirements. (See section
307(b)(2).)
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Ozone, Volatile organic compounds.
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
9295
Dated: February 3, 2021.
Cheryl Newton,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 5.
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, EPA amends 40 CFR part 52
as follows:
PART 52—APPROVAL AND
PROMULGATION OF
IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
1. The authority citation for part 52
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
2. Section 52.2570 is amended by
adding paragraph (c)(141) to read as
follows:
■
§ 52.2570
Identification of plan.
*
*
*
*
*
(c) * * *
(141) On December 13, 2019, the
Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources submitted a State
Implementation Plan revision request
regarding the state’s volatile organic
compound (VOC) reasonably available
control technology (RACT) rules for
offset lithographic printing operations.
These revisions include amendments to
Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter
NR 422 that are consistent with the
latest CTG issued by EPA in 2006 and
clarify and streamline the VOC RACT
requirements for lithographic printing
facilities located in nine counties in
Wisconsin (Kenosha, Kewaunee,
Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Ozaukee,
Racine, Sheboygan, Washington, and
Waukesha).
(i) Incorporation by reference.
Wisconsin Administrative Code NR
422.02 ‘‘Definitions.’’, NR 422.142
‘‘Lithographic Printing—Part 1.’’, and
NR 422.143 ‘‘Lithographic Printing—
Part 2.’’, as published in the Wisconsin
Administrative Register June 2019, No.
762, effective July 1, 2019.
(ii) [Reserved]
[FR Doc. 2021–02745 Filed 2–11–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 54
[WC Dkt. No. 17–310; DA 20–1420; FRS
17373]
Promoting Telehealth in Rural America
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Final rule and order;
notification of operational date.
AGENCY:
In this document, the Federal
Communications Commission
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\12FER1.SGM
12FER1
9296
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 28 / Friday, February 12, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
(Commission) announces the
operational date of certain rules for
funding year 2020.
DATES: This Order is effective March 15,
2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bryan Boyle, Telecommunications
Access Policy Division, Wireline
Competition Bureau at (202) 418–7400
or TTY: (202) 418–0484 or via email:
Bryan.Boyle@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
synopsis of the Order in WC Docket No.
17–310; DA 20–1420, adopted and
released November 30, 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-201420A1.pdf.
I. Introduction
1. The Wireline Competition Bureau
(Bureau) amends the prior decision,
adopted in the December 2019 Public
Notice (DA 19–1253), to delay the
implementation date of certain rule
changes introduced in the Promoting
Telehealth Report and Order (FCC 19–
78). Specifically, in light of changed
circumstances, the Bureau finds that the
rules should be implemented as soon as
possible, and hence the Order
accelerates the operational date of those
rules, thereby ensuring that the updated
site and service substitution rules,
corrective and operational Service
Provider Identification Number (SPIN)
change rules, service delivery deadline
extension rules, and invoicing deadline
extension rules adopted in the
Promoting Telehealth Report and Order
will be fully effective for the remainder
of funding year 2020. The Bureau
anticipates that this action will help
Rural Health Care (RHC) Program
participants, now faced with the
challenges of the COVID–19 pandemic,
address changing circumstances in the
current funding year and beyond.
II. Discussion
2. Through the Order the Bureau
ensures that the rule changes in the
Promoting Telehealth Report and Order
adopting site and service substitutions
for the Telecom Program, amending the
SPIN change process to allow for
corrective and operational changes
across both the Healthcare Connect
Fund and Telecom Programs,
establishing a service delivery deadline
of June 30 while permitting a one-year
extension of the service delivery
deadline, and permitting a one-time
120-day invoice filing extension will be
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:41 Feb 11, 2021
Jkt 253001
effective for the remainder of funding
year 2020. The December 2019 Public
Notice pushed back the operational
dates to funding year 2021 for all rule
changes requiring approval pursuant to
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA).
Now that such PRA approval (eff. June
19, 2020 (85 FR 37022) has been
obtained and in light of changed
circumstances arising from the COVID–
19 emergency, the Bureau recognizes
that making these aforementioned rules
operational for funding year 2020 could
provide helpful flexibility to health care
providers during the current funding
year. Accordingly, the Bureau amends
the earlier action in the December 2019
Public Notice so that the updated site
and service substitution rules, corrective
and operational SPIN change rules, and
service delivery deadline and invoicing
deadline extension rules will become
operational for the remainder of funding
year 2020, on March 15, 2021.
3. The COVID–19 pandemic has
caused an unprecedented medical
emergency, highlighting the need for
remote telehealth options to treat and
save the lives of Americans. The Bureau
anticipates that the rule changes that are
made operational for the remainder of
funding year 2020 will help health care
providers with changing circumstances
as they serve patients in rural areas
during this COVID–19 pandemic. The
Bureau takes this action to amend the
operational date of the rules to provide
health care providers with increased
flexibility to make changes to funding
requests and seek extensions of RHC
Program deadlines. The rules that are
the subject of the Order were intended
to harmonize requirements between the
Telecom and Healthcare Connect Fund
Programs and reduce administrative
burdens on health care providers.
Amending the operational date of the
rules will, among other things, allow
health care providers to seek extensions
of the service delivery deadlines and
invoice deadlines, make site and service
substitution requests, and make SPIN
changes. The COVID–19 pandemic is a
heavy burden on health care providers,
and the amendment of the operational
date of the rules will assist program
participants as they work to treat
patients during the health emergency.
Accordingly, the Bureau finds good
cause exists given the urgent health care
crisis to dispense with additional notice
and comment, to the extent such notice
and comment would normally be
appropriate, before taking this action.
The Bureau notes that the Order is
consistent with the its prior actions in
response to the COVID–19 pandemic,
waiving filing deadlines and other
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
administrative requirements to increase
broadband connectivity and
administrative flexibility for health care
providers.
4. The Order will become effective
March 15, 2021. Any program
participants seeking site and service
substitutions or SPIN changes for the
portion of funding year 2020 prior to the
effective date of the Order may seek a
waiver of the Commission’s rules.
Additionally, in the event that a
program participant is negatively
impacted by any of the actions taken in
the Order, it may file a petition for
waiver seeking relief from the updated
effective date and request to use the
rules predating the Promoting
Telehealth Report and Order through
funding year 2020.
5. The Universal Service
Administrative Company (USAC), the
Universal Service Administrator, is
currently working to implement
technology changes that will allow
program participants to make filings
requesting changes consistent with the
Promoting Telehealth Report and Order.
In conjunction with the implementation
of the new rules, USAC is updating its
information technology systems to allow
program participants to file the
appropriate forms; however, those
changes have not been implemented.
Currently, USAC is working under a
schedule stemming from the December
2019 Public Notice, in which the
changes were to be implemented prior
to the start of funding year 2021. The
Commission expects that USAC will
have implemented all technology
deployments related to these rule
changes before the end of funding year
2020. Because invoice extension
requests and service delivery deadline
requests occur at the end of the funding
year, there should be no need for health
care providers to make these requests
before USAC is in position to accept
such requests. Some health care
providers, however, will likely wish to
make SPIN change and site and service
substitution requests mid-year. To
ensure that the changes can be
requested throughout the year, the
Commission directs USAC to develop
and publicize within 30 days of the
Federal Register publication, an interim
system for processing site and service
substitutions and SPIN changes that will
be available until USAC launches its
permanent technological solution.
III. Ordering Clauses
6. Accordingly, it is ordered that
pursuant to the authority in sections 1–
4 and 254 of the Communications Act
of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151–154
and 254, and pursuant to §§ 0.91 and
E:\FR\FM\12FER1.SGM
12FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 28 / Friday, February 12, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
0.291 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR
0.91 and 0.291, amending the
operational date of §§ 54.624, 54.625,
54.626, and 54.627 of the Commission’s
rules, 47 CFR 54.624, 54.625, 54.626,
and 54.627, as indicated herein.
7. It is further ordered that, pursuant
to § 1.102(b)(1) of the Commission’s
rules, 47 CFR 1.102(b)(1), the order shall
be effective March 15, 2021.
Federal Communications Commission.
Cheryl L. Callahan,
Assistant Chief, Telecommunications Access
Policy Division Wireline Competition Bureau.
Editorial note: This document was
received for publication at the Office of the
Federal Register on January 8, 2021.
[FR Doc. 2021–00588 Filed 2–11–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 73 and 74
[MB Docket Nos. 15–146; GN Docket No.
12–268; FCC 20–175; FRS 17303]
Amendment of the Commission’s
Rules To Provide for the Preservation
of One Vacant Channel in the UHF
Television Band for Use by White
Space Devices and Wireless
Microphones
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
In this Report and Order
(Order), the Federal Communications
Commission declines to adopt rules
proposed in the Commission’s 2015
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 30 FCC
Rcd 6711 (2015) (2015 NPRM) in this
proceeding and, therefore, terminates
the proceeding. While the Commission
continues to support unlicensed white
space devices and wireless microphone
user operations and continues to believe
they serve important interests, based on
the record of this proceeding and in
light of other actions it has taken during
the years since the rules were proposed,
coupled with the increased burden that
its 2015 proposal would place on the
use by broadcasters of spectrum in the
more consolidated TV band that now
exists following the Incentive Auction,
the Commission finds that the rules
proposed in the 2015 NPRM would not
serve the public interest. In reaching
this conclusion, the Commission finds
other actions it has taken since the 2015
NPRM to support white space devices
and wireless microphones are the
preferred avenues for the continued
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:41 Feb 11, 2021
Jkt 253001
support of these services. Accordingly,
the Commission terminates this docket.
DATES: The decision is effective
February 12, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shaun Maher, Shaun.Maher@fcc.gov of
the Media Bureau, (202) 418–2324.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Commission’s Report
and Order (R&O), MB Docket Nos. 15–
146; GN Docket No. 12–268; FCC 20–
175, adopted on December 8, 2020 and
released December 9, 2020. The full text
of this document is available for
download at https://www.fcc.gov/edocs.
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 (tty).
Synopsis
1. In this Order, the Commission
declines to adopt the proposals in the
2015 NPRM finding that support of
white space device and wireless
microphone users is now more
effectively being achieved through other
Commission proceedings, and, as a
result, the proposals to preserve a
vacant channel for shared use by white
space devices and wireless microphone
operations do not serve the public
interest.
2. The Commission finds that the
spectrum landscape has changed
significantly since 2015. Without
question, today’s TV band is smaller
and more densely packed than it was at
the time the Commission adopted the
2015 NPRM. To illustrate, at the time
the 2015 NPRM was adopted, there were
1,384 full power and Class A televisions
stations operating on UHF channels 21
through 51 for an average of 46 stations
per channel. Today, there are 1,088 such
stations operating on channels 21
through 36, an average of 68 stations per
channel, many with expanded facilities.
In addition, the TV band is more
densely packed as a result of changes
made by stations after the Incentive
Auction and because reverse auction
winners continue to operate in the new
TV band. Analyses using the
Commission’s TVStudy software reveal
that there are numerous major
metropolitan areas in the United States
that have no vacant, 6 MHz channels.
This reality undermines the
Commission’s goal of creating a
nationwide solution as proponents of
the 2015 NPRM proposal argued on
behalf of the proposal on the grounds
that such a nationwide vacant channel
was essential.
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
9297
3. Subsequent to adoption of the 2015
NPRM, the Commission took a number
of significant steps to ensure that white
space device and wireless microphone
operations can flourish. In responding
to the 2015 NPRM, white space device
proponents cited the need to create
certainty that vacant channels would be
available for their use in order to
promote greater innovation in new
devices and services, including
increased access to broadband services
across the country. The Commission
believes that its more recent actions in
other proceedings have helped to create
such certainty by allowing for more
robust service and efficient spectral use
in the post-Incentive Auction television
band as well as in the 600 MHz guard
bands and 600 MHz wireless services
and by revising the rules to allow for
enhanced fixed white space device
operations in rural areas. The
Commission finds that these actions
have achieved the benefits sought by
white space device proponents and
obviate the need to impose the
burdensome vacant channel
preservation requirement on television
broadcasters. Similarly, when
responding to the 2015 NPRM, wireless
microphone users expressed concerns
about the reduced amount of spectrum
that would be available for use by
wireless microphones in the repacked
TV bands, and they cited to such
concerns to support their call to
preserve a vacant channel for shared use
with white space devices. Once again,
the Commission believes that the steps
it has taken in other proceedings since
the 2015 NPRM will ensure that
wireless microphone operators have
access to sufficient spectrum, including
spectrum outside of the broadcast
television band, to meet their needs.
These actions underscore the
conclusion that the regulatory approach
proposed in the 2015 NPRM is no longer
needed and is outweighed by the
burden that such an action would place
on the broadcast users of the TV band.
4. White Space Devices. In August
2015, recognizing the significantly
altered regulatory landscape for
unlicensed white space devices in the
broadcast television bands, the
Commission adopted its White Spaces
R&O, 30 FCC Rcd 9551. In that
proceeding, the Commission modified
several rules to allow for more robust
service and efficient spectral use in the
post-Incentive Auction television band
as well as in the 600 MHz guard bands
and 600 MHz wireless services band
that would be created as a result of
repurposing the television bands
following the Incentive Auction.
E:\FR\FM\12FER1.SGM
12FER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 28 (Friday, February 12, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9295-9297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00588]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 54
[WC Dkt. No. 17-310; DA 20-1420; FRS 17373]
Promoting Telehealth in Rural America
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule and order; notification of operational date.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission
[[Page 9296]]
(Commission) announces the operational date of certain rules for
funding year 2020.
DATES: This Order is effective March 15, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Boyle, Telecommunications Access
Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-7400 or TTY:
(202) 418-0484 or via email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Order in WC Docket
No. 17-310; DA 20-1420, adopted and released November 30, 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-20-1420A1.pdf.
I. Introduction
1. The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) amends the prior
decision, adopted in the December 2019 Public Notice (DA 19-1253), to
delay the implementation date of certain rule changes introduced in the
Promoting Telehealth Report and Order (FCC 19-78). Specifically, in
light of changed circumstances, the Bureau finds that the rules should
be implemented as soon as possible, and hence the Order accelerates the
operational date of those rules, thereby ensuring that the updated site
and service substitution rules, corrective and operational Service
Provider Identification Number (SPIN) change rules, service delivery
deadline extension rules, and invoicing deadline extension rules
adopted in the Promoting Telehealth Report and Order will be fully
effective for the remainder of funding year 2020. The Bureau
anticipates that this action will help Rural Health Care (RHC) Program
participants, now faced with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,
address changing circumstances in the current funding year and beyond.
II. Discussion
2. Through the Order the Bureau ensures that the rule changes in
the Promoting Telehealth Report and Order adopting site and service
substitutions for the Telecom Program, amending the SPIN change process
to allow for corrective and operational changes across both the
Healthcare Connect Fund and Telecom Programs, establishing a service
delivery deadline of June 30 while permitting a one-year extension of
the service delivery deadline, and permitting a one-time 120-day
invoice filing extension will be effective for the remainder of funding
year 2020. The December 2019 Public Notice pushed back the operational
dates to funding year 2021 for all rule changes requiring approval
pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Now that such PRA
approval (eff. June 19, 2020 (85 FR 37022) has been obtained and in
light of changed circumstances arising from the COVID-19 emergency, the
Bureau recognizes that making these aforementioned rules operational
for funding year 2020 could provide helpful flexibility to health care
providers during the current funding year. Accordingly, the Bureau
amends the earlier action in the December 2019 Public Notice so that
the updated site and service substitution rules, corrective and
operational SPIN change rules, and service delivery deadline and
invoicing deadline extension rules will become operational for the
remainder of funding year 2020, on March 15, 2021.
3. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented medical
emergency, highlighting the need for remote telehealth options to treat
and save the lives of Americans. The Bureau anticipates that the rule
changes that are made operational for the remainder of funding year
2020 will help health care providers with changing circumstances as
they serve patients in rural areas during this COVID-19 pandemic. The
Bureau takes this action to amend the operational date of the rules to
provide health care providers with increased flexibility to make
changes to funding requests and seek extensions of RHC Program
deadlines. The rules that are the subject of the Order were intended to
harmonize requirements between the Telecom and Healthcare Connect Fund
Programs and reduce administrative burdens on health care providers.
Amending the operational date of the rules will, among other things,
allow health care providers to seek extensions of the service delivery
deadlines and invoice deadlines, make site and service substitution
requests, and make SPIN changes. The COVID-19 pandemic is a heavy
burden on health care providers, and the amendment of the operational
date of the rules will assist program participants as they work to
treat patients during the health emergency. Accordingly, the Bureau
finds good cause exists given the urgent health care crisis to dispense
with additional notice and comment, to the extent such notice and
comment would normally be appropriate, before taking this action. The
Bureau notes that the Order is consistent with the its prior actions in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic, waiving filing deadlines and other
administrative requirements to increase broadband connectivity and
administrative flexibility for health care providers.
4. The Order will become effective March 15, 2021. Any program
participants seeking site and service substitutions or SPIN changes for
the portion of funding year 2020 prior to the effective date of the
Order may seek a waiver of the Commission's rules. Additionally, in the
event that a program participant is negatively impacted by any of the
actions taken in the Order, it may file a petition for waiver seeking
relief from the updated effective date and request to use the rules
predating the Promoting Telehealth Report and Order through funding
year 2020.
5. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), the
Universal Service Administrator, is currently working to implement
technology changes that will allow program participants to make filings
requesting changes consistent with the Promoting Telehealth Report and
Order. In conjunction with the implementation of the new rules, USAC is
updating its information technology systems to allow program
participants to file the appropriate forms; however, those changes have
not been implemented. Currently, USAC is working under a schedule
stemming from the December 2019 Public Notice, in which the changes
were to be implemented prior to the start of funding year 2021. The
Commission expects that USAC will have implemented all technology
deployments related to these rule changes before the end of funding
year 2020. Because invoice extension requests and service delivery
deadline requests occur at the end of the funding year, there should be
no need for health care providers to make these requests before USAC is
in position to accept such requests. Some health care providers,
however, will likely wish to make SPIN change and site and service
substitution requests mid-year. To ensure that the changes can be
requested throughout the year, the Commission directs USAC to develop
and publicize within 30 days of the Federal Register publication, an
interim system for processing site and service substitutions and SPIN
changes that will be available until USAC launches its permanent
technological solution.
III. Ordering Clauses
6. Accordingly, it is ordered that pursuant to the authority in
sections 1-4 and 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47
U.S.C. 151-154 and 254, and pursuant to Sec. Sec. 0.91 and
[[Page 9297]]
0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 0.91 and 0.291, amending the
operational date of Sec. Sec. 54.624, 54.625, 54.626, and 54.627 of
the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 54.624, 54.625, 54.626, and 54.627, as
indicated herein.
7. It is further ordered that, pursuant to Sec. 1.102(b)(1) of the
Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.102(b)(1), the order shall be effective
March 15, 2021.
Federal Communications Commission.
Cheryl L. Callahan,
Assistant Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division Wireline
Competition Bureau.
Editorial note: This document was received for publication at
the Office of the Federal Register on January 8, 2021.
[FR Doc. 2021-00588 Filed 2-11-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
