FCC Stops Taking COVID-19 Telehealth Applications After Exceeding Budgeted Demand

The FCC stopped taking COVID-19 telehealth applications, it announced Thursday. "Based on the applications received to date, demand for funding exceeds available" money. Some $200 million was allotted. The FCC doesn't "want to impose burdens on health care providers who may prepare new applications that cannot be funded under the current appropriation."

The program has approved 444 requests in 46 states plus Washington, D.C., for $157.64 million, the agency announced. The latest awards were disclosed this week, see here. A Wireline Bureau public notice has details on the cessation of accepting new requests for money. See here.

The FCC didn't immediately answer our questions. Commissioner Brendan Carr has been a proponent at the agency for telehealth funds. His office didn't comment right away.