**DA 08-1751**

**Released: July 28, 2008**

**RURAL HEALTH CARE PILOT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS' QUARTERLY REPORTS DUE
JULY 30, 2008**

On November 16, 2007, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission)
adopted the *Rural Health Care Pilot Program Selection Order*,[^1] which
selected 69 applicants to participate in the rural health care pilot
program (Pilot Program), established by the Commission on September 26,
2006.[^2] Pursuant to the *Rural Health Care Pilot Program Selection
Order*, Pilot Program participants must submit quarterly reports to the
Universal Service Administration Company (USAC) and the Commission.[^3]

The first of these quarterly reports is due on July 30, 2008, and shall
contain responsive data from the effective date of the order, December
17, 2007, to June 30, 2008.[^4] Subsequent reports are due on October 30
(including responsive data for the prior July to September), January 30
(including responsive data for the prior October to December), April 30
(including responsive data for the prior January to March), and July 30
(including responsive data for the prior April to June).[^5] Pilot
Program participants are required to file these quarterly reports for a
72-month period commencing July 30, 2008.[^6]

The quarterly reports must contain the data listed in Appendix D of the
*Rural Health Care Pilot Program Selection Order*.[^7] These reports
will assist the Commission in evaluating the success of the program,
including understanding whether support is being used in a manner
consistent with section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, and the Commission's rules and orders.[^8] Collection of this
data is critical to the goal of preventing waste, fraud, and abuse by
ensuring that funding is flowing to its intended purpose.[^9] As stated
in the *Rural Health Care Pilot Program Selection Order,* participants
that do not provide the data may be eliminated from participating in the
Pilot Program; may lose or receive reduced support; or may be required
to return prior distributions.[^10]

**Instructions for Filing Quarterly Reports with the Commission**

Quarterly reports should reference the FCC docket number for the Pilot
Program (WC Docket No. 02-60) only, and may be filed using: (1) the
Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS); or (2) by filing
paper copies.

-   Electronic Filers: Quarterly reports may be filed electronically
    using the Internet by accessing the ECFS at
    [http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/]{.underline}. Filers should follow the
    same instructions provided on the website for submitting comments.
    In completing the transmittal screen, ECFS filers should include
    their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the
    applicable docket or rulemaking number. Filers may also submit an
    electronic copy by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions,
    filers should send and e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov and should include the
    following words in the body of the message, "get form." A sample
    form and directions will be sent in response.

-   Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an
    original and four copies of each application. Quarterly reports can
    be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight
    courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail
    (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal
    Service mail). All filings must be addressed to the Commission's
    Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications
    Commission.

-   Hand-delivered or messenger delivered quarterly reports: The
    Commission's contractor will receive hand-delivered or
    messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at
    236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002. The
    filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand
    deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any
    envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building.
    Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express
    Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive,
    Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express,
    and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW,
    Washington DC 20554.

Courtesy Copies: Filers must also send a courtesy copy of their
quarterly reports to: Antoinette Stevens, Telecommunications Access
Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W.,
Room 5B-521, Washington, D.C. 20554; e-mail: antoinette.stevens@fcc.gov.

**Confidential Treatment**

The Commission's rules permit any person submitting information to the
Commission to request that such information be withheld from public
inspection (i.e., afforded confidential treatment). Pilot Program
participants interested in requesting confidential treatment of their
quarterly reports are required to comply with section 0.459 of the
Commission's rules, which describes the information that must be
included in a request for confidential treatment, as well as filing
procedures for those seeking confidential treatment.[^11]

People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for
people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio
format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).

For further information, please contact Jennifer Prime, Wireline
Competition Bureau, Jennifer.Prime@fcc.gov, (202) 418-7400.

**-FCC-**

[^1]: *Rural Health Care Support Mechanism*, WC Docket No. 02-60, Order,
    22 FCC Rcd 20360 (2007) (*Rural Health Care Pilot Program Selection
    Order*).

[^2]: *Rural Health Care Support Mechanism*, WC Docket No. 02-60, Order,
    21 FCC Rcd 11111 (2006) (*2006 Pilot Program Order*).

[^3]: *Rural Health Care Pilot Program Selection Order*, 22 FCC Rcd at
    20423-24, para. 126.

[^4]: *Id*. at 20423-23, paras. 126-27.

[^5]: *Id.* at 20424, para. 127*.*

[^6]: *Id*.

[^7]: *Id.* at 20423-24, para. 126.

[^8]: *Id*.; 47 U.S.C. § 254.

[^9]: *Rural Health Care Pilot Program Selection Order*, 22 FCC Rcd at
    20423-24, para. 126.

[^10]: *Id.* at 20424, para. 128.

[^11]: *See* 47 C.F.R. § 0.459.