Coronavirus Information

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19). The CDC has established a website with the latest information from the CDC and the overarching medical community on COVID-19. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available. For the latest information from the CDC, including how COVID-19 spreads, symptoms, prevention and treatment, stigma, what to do if you are sick, and frequently asked questions, visit coronavirus.gov. To learn more about overall agency efforts to keep Americans connected during the pandemic, and to protect the health and safety of staff, visit fcc.gov/coronavirus.

Experiencing Cancer in Appalachian Kentucky

Connected cancer care is of increasing importance in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Linking & Amplifying User-Centered Networks through Connected Health (L.A.U.N.C.H.) Collaborative in Appalachian Kentucky has pioneered a new roadmap for equipping communities with the transformative power of broadband to innovate around the future of cancer care and to better scale their ideas. The roadmap involves reaching across disciplines, including public health, anthropology, telecommunications, and user-centered design. The goal is to leverage connectivity and cancer communication research and practice to make a real difference for patients and families.

This paper, published in the July 2020 issue of the Journal of Appalachian Health, highlights this research and the work of the L.A.U.N.C.H. Collaborative.

• Read the preface.
• Read the article.
• Learn more about L.A.U.N.C.H. 

Senior Leadership Think Tank

The Federal Communications Commission's Connect2Health Task Force and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health convened a groundbreaking meeting at FCC headquarters in Washington, DC, with senior thought leaders from both the public and private sectors and across the country. The broad expertise included representatives from government, academia, industry, healthcare systems, public health, biotechnology, design and innovation, and telecommunications.

Mapping Broadband Health in America

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Faces of Connected Care

This video shows the positive impact of public-private partnerships on health outcomes and how broadband-enabled health technologies have made a difference to diabetes patients in Mississippi. Watch video.

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Blog: A Texas State of Mind - Connected Health in Houston and the Rio Grande Valley

“Texas is a state of mind,” said John Steinbeck referring to the unique combination of passion, cohesiveness and independence so common to the state.  The FCC’s Connect2Health^FCC Task Force experienced this first-hand during its recent “Beyond the Beltway” visit to Houston and the Rio Grande Valley.  In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, the visit was anchored by a Broadband Prescriptions for Mental Health conference co-hosted by the renowned University of Houston Law Center’s Health Law and Policy Institute, with the Law Center’s esteemed Dean, Leonard M. Baynes.

Read the blog post | Connect2HealthFCC blog posts

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Broadband Health Imperative

Broadband-enabled health technology solutions can help us meet the health and care challenges of today and tomorrow by connecting people to the people, services, and information they need to get well and stay healthy. Learn more about the broadband health imperative.

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Connectivity & Health Snapshot

The Connect2HealthFCC maps provide a high level snapshot of the current state of affairs at the intersection of broadband, connectivity and health in various states across the country. Virginia is the first map in our series and is a follow-up to the Task Force visit to Charlottesville in late 2014. Here you can interact with and begin to experience Virginia's story of health and connectivity. Learn more and provide feedback.

 

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Funding

Funding Sources for Broadband-Enabled Health Care: Financial support available for initiatives connecting broadband services and health care delivery.

 

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Consumers

The Connect2HealthFCC Task Force tip sheets, available in English and Spanish, offer tips to help consumers engage in their own health care through broadband-enabled services.

Tips and Information

• Connected Health Technology Can Help in the Fight Against Cancer
• Broadband-Enabled Health Technologies Can Reduce Costs and Improve Care for People with Disabilities
• Stay Heart Healthy with Broadband Technologies and Apps
• Things to Ask Your Doctor About Digital Health
• More for Consumers

Digital Health: Share Your Story
We want to know how you are "connecting" to health! How are you using technology to address a health problem? Which digital health tools work best for you? You can email us at engageC2H@fcc.gov and send us your pic, audio file or video.

 

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Policymaking

The FCC remains committed to doing its part to accelerate the adoption of broadband-enabled health care solutions and the development and availability of health-related technologies for all Americans. This is a collaborative effort involving multiple bureaus and offices. For example, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) oversees the Healthcare Connect Fund, to expand health care provider access to broadband, especially in rural areas. The Office Engineering and Technology (OET) manages spectrum and works to create new opportunities for competitive technologies, including wireless medical devices.

Explore the FCC's Policymaking Milestones: FCC, Broadband and Health Milestones (1996 – 2018)
Significant FCC actions and activities for improving health care, expanding access to broadband, facilitating the development of advanced health care technologies, and creating new opportunities for innovators and entrepreneurs. Click on the graphic to learn more about the milestones and events.