Telemedicine will save the healthcare industry $21 billion a year globally by 2025, increasing from $11 billion in 2021, reported Juniper Research Monday. Savings will be confined to developed nations where access to required devices and internet connectivity is most prevalent along with the proliferation in telehealth services, it said. Juniper predicts that more than 80% of savings by 2025 will be attributable to North America and Europe. It estimates that 348 million telehealth visits took place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with 280 million in 2019. “The activities of third party healthcare service developers will be crucial in accelerating the deployment of emerging telemedicine services, and increasing the uptake amongst healthcare providers,” said Juniper.
Telemedicine will save the healthcare industry $21 billion a year globally by 2025, increasing from $11 billion in 2021, reported Juniper Research Monday. Savings will be confined to developed nations where access to required devices and internet connectivity is most prevalent along with the proliferation in telehealth services, it said. Juniper predicts that more than 80% of savings by 2025 will be attributable to North America and Europe. It estimates that 348 million telehealth visits took place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with 280 million in 2019. “The activities of third party healthcare service developers will be crucial in accelerating the deployment of emerging telemedicine services, and increasing the uptake amongst healthcare providers,” said Juniper.
Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., agreed on a substitute amendment filed for Wednesday’s markup on the Endless Frontier Act (see 2104130068), according to documents we obtained. Introduced by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., S-1260 is aimed at increasing domestic semiconductor manufacturing. The $112 billion bill has seven Republican co-sponsors. Commerce pulled S-1260 from an April markup after members filed more than 230 amendments (see 2104270045).
Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., agreed on a substitute amendment filed for Wednesday’s markup on the Endless Frontier Act (see 2104130068), according to documents we obtained. Introduced by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., S-1260 is aimed at increasing domestic semiconductor manufacturing. The $112 billion bill has seven Republican co-sponsors. Commerce pulled S-1260 from an April markup after members filed more than 230 amendments (see 2104270045).
The U.S. extended national emergencies authorizing sanctions against Iraq, the Central African Republic and Syria, the White House said May 6. The White House said actions in all three countries continue to “pose an unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security and foreign policy.
Jessica Rosenworcel's tenure as FCC acting chairwoman has featured bipartisan unanimity. Former commissioners and others don't see her running out of noncontroversial agenda items soon. They told us to expect issues that could be contentious, such as revisiting net neutrality and new orbital debris rules, to be back-burnered until a third Democratic commissioner is appointed, breaking the current 2-2 balance. Current commissioners credit Rosenworcel including them in decision-making and communicating with them.
The effort to increase broadband access on tribal lands is gaining momentum, experts said in recent interviews. The next challenge is holding the FCC and Biden administration to their commitment to consult with tribal leaders and promote broadband deployment on tribal lands, they said.
Cable ISPs and connectivity experts told us not to expect federal stimulus spending for broadband to make a huge dent in adoption gaps due to lack of connectivity, though it could reduce the number of people dropping service in the near term due to pocketbook issues. Some see the FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund potentially having longer-term ramifications, and much depends on finalized ECF rules due Monday. Many hope to see a more-permanent version of the emergency broadband benefit program emerge.
House Communications Subcommittee members delivered divergent assessments on infrastructure proposals from President Joe Biden’s administration and congressional Democrats aimed at improving broadband affordability and equity, during a Thursday hearing. Negotiations on the scope of a final infrastructure legislative package partly turn on whether a broadband title will address affordability and equity. Doing so is crucial to narrowing the digital divide, supporters told us.
Public Knowledge CEO Chris Lewis and Next Century Cities Executive Director Francella Ochillo urge broadband affordability and equity legislation along the lines of what President Joe Biden and Democratic lawmakers propose (see 2103310064), in written testimony before a Thursday House Communications Subcommittee hearing. National Urban league Senior Vice President-Advocacy and Policy Joi Chaney and Phoenix Center Chief Economist George Ford also will testify (see 2105040062). Their written testimony wasn’t available Wednesday. “The high cost of broadband is one of the primary reasons why the United States has such a staggering digital divide,” Lewis says. “Congress must take steps to increase competition in the marketplace, which will reduce prices. However, even with lower prices, some of our nation’s most vulnerable will still be unable to afford this critical service. For this reason, Congress must create a long-term benefit” to succeed the $3.2 billion FCC emergency broadband benefit (see 2012220061). A “long-term emergency broadband benefit must continue the EBB’s legacy of broad consumer eligibility, should provide enough funding to enable consumers to access service that meets their needs, and should guarantee that all eligible consumers complete enrollment by promoting automatic verification of identity and eligibility,” Lewis says. “Congress should also require any entity receiving federal funding to offer a low-cost option for anyone.” Ochillo urges lawmakers to consider nontraditional network models to ensure a comprehensive affordability strategy, including municipal networks. Muni broadband has "some of the fastest speeds and highest quality connectivity in the nation while making prices readily transparent, selling service in symmetrical tiers, and maintaining affordability programs for low-income residents,” she says. “Publicly owned WiFi and mesh networks also fill important gaps.” The Computer & Communications industry Association praised House Communications for tackling broadband affordability and equity.