ILEC Groups, SHLB Coalition, Alaska Entities Suggest Changes to FCC Rural Health Care Draft

could benefit from voluntary price reductions from their service providers. USTelecom is concerned "the commission may be looking to service providers to bear the burden of the program exceeding its budget by reducing prices below competitively-bid rates," said a filing posted Friday in docket 17-310. "The more appropriate and efficient approach is for the Commission to better manage costs in the RHC program through procedural measures such as allocating additional funding or by more judiciously approving RHC support applications." ITTA said, the agency "should maintain, if not bolster, the language in its draft order emphasizing that any price reductions by service providers for RHC funding in FY 2017 are both voluntary and adopted as a single, one-time measure." It also said language should specify that service providers won't incur penalties if they decline to voluntarily reduce their rates. As part of the draft's proposed limited funding relief, the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition urged the FCC to "fully fund all RHC applications that were submitted within the FY 2017 filing window (which is now closed) -- even in the event available rollover funds prove insufficient," said an SHLB filing on discussions with aides to all five commissioners. In calls with aides to Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioner Michael O'Rielly, Alaska Communications backed "an immediate increase in the budget for the RHC support programs, and suggested the FCC seek comment in the NPRM on several issues." The Alaska Primary Care Association called the draft "positive" but also urged fully funding FY 2017 applications and extending the current application window for next year. Kellogg & Sovereign, which assists RHC applicants, voiced concerns about a "standstill" in FY 2017 funding and the FY 2018 filing window.