by Jennifer L. Richter , Tom Davidson , Douglas I. Brandon , Steven Rowings , Lyndsey Grunewald , Karen L. Milne , Virginia D. Hiner , Galen Roehl and Shea Boyd
Key Points
- Congress and federal agencies are taking action to ensure that Americans stay connected during the COVID-19 crisis, including the CARES Act. The CARES Act provides 0 million to the FCC for telehealth services and additional funding for other federal initiatives aimed at closing the digital divide and supporting distance learning.
- In addition to the 0 million COVID-19 Telehealth Program (implementing the CARES Act), the FCC has proposed other new initiatives to make funding available for telehealth providers, including a 0 million Connected Care Program. The Commission has also made an additional million immediately available through its RHC Program, and has taken other measures to support telecommunications providers and telecommunications services by temporarily extending certain deadlines, issuing waivers of some existing rules and granting some wireless providers temporary access to additional spectrum.
- DHS has issued guidance classifying certain telecommunications workers as "essential critical infrastructure workers" during this crisis.
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