In August and September 2017, the Federal Communications Commission’s Connect2Health Task Force convened several virtual listening sessions to more efficiently facilitate targeted input on broadband health issues (including on the rural/urban gap and other digital divide issues) from non-traditional stakeholders and those outside the Washington, DC area. This effort specifically related to the Task Force’s development of recommendations on critical regulatory, policy, technical, and infrastructure issues concerning the emerging broadband-enabled health and care ecosystem described in the April 24, 2017, Public Notice issued in GN Docket No. 16-46 (FCC Seeks Comment and Data on Actions to Accelerate Adoption and Accessibility of Broadband-Enabled Health Care Solutions and Advanced Technologies).
Virtual Listening Session #1 - Health Care Provider Forum
The Connect2HealthFCC Task Force held its first virtual listening session on August 10, 2017. The Health Care Provider Forum provided an opportunity for health system administrators and CIOs; clinicians and other health care providers (including allied health professionals); community health officials and clinicians; small medical practices; and researchers to provide public comment to the Task Force.
Moderators: Dr. David K. Ahern, Special Advisor, Health Information Technology, Connect2HealthFCC Task Force and Dr. M. Chris Gibbons, Senior Consultant, Connect2HealthFCC Task Force
Listen to the audio recording. View the written transcript.
Participants represented a broad cross-section of stakeholders from all over the country and included:
- Jonathan Bailey, Chief Program Development Officer, Mission Health
- Verne Boerner, President and CEO, Alaska Native Health Board
- Hank Fanberg, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Christus Health
- Sean Grove, External Affairs Manager, BJC Healthcare
- Lovisa Gustafsson, Program Officer, Breakthrough Health Opportunities, The Commonwealth Fund
- Beth Hahn, Director, Flambeau Home Health and Hospice
- Tracy Hines, Broadband Program Administrator, Colorado Telehealth Network and Colorado Hospital Association
- Michael Iaquinta, Founder, iSelectMD
- Craig Jacobson, Partner, Hobbs Straus Dean & Walker, LLP
- William Jansen, President, MetalQuest
- Scott Klein, Vice President for Information Technology, Presence Health
- Seva Kumar, Director of Decision Support, Washington State Hospital Association
- Beth McCarthy, Attorney Advisor, Federal Communications Commission
- Edward Miller, Director for Federal Relations, MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Theresa D. Mingarell, Policy Analyst, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
- Carey Officer, Administrator, Nemours CareConnect
- Shane Rodabaugh, Executive Director of Information Technology, Baptist Health
- Oliver Spurgeon, Deputy Director, Federal Affairs, National Association of Community Health Centers
- Ken Stigen, IT Manager/Nurse Informatics, Rusk Hospital
- Chantal Worzala, Director of Policy, American Hospital Association
- Jon Zasada, Director of Policy Integration, Alaska Primary Care Association
Additional Connect2HealthFCC Task Force participants included:
- Ben Bartolome, Special Counsel
- Michele Ellison, Deputy General Counsel, FCC and Task Force Chair
- Katie Gorscak, Director of Communications
- Dr. Kelly Murphy, Medical Fellow
- Karen Onyeije, Associate General Counsel, FCC and Task Force Chief of Staff
- Louis Peraertz, Attorney Advisor (Special Counsel)
Virtual Listening Session #2 – Rural and Consumer Issues Forum
The Connect2HealthFCC Task Force held its second virtual listening session on September 13, 2017. The Rural and Consumer Issues Forum provided an opportunity for groups and organizations representing rural interests, Native Americans, people with disabilities, and seniors; state and local government; health care providers, telehealth services providers, and researchers to provide public comment concerning many of the issues raised in the broadband health public notice issued by the Commission in GN Docket No. 16-46.
Moderator: Ben Bartolome, Special Counsel, Connect2HealthFCC Task Force
Listen to the audio recording. View the written transcript.
Participants represented a broad cross-section of stakeholders from all over the country and included:
- Everette Bacon, Board Member, National Federation of the Blind (Utah Chapter President)
- David Bahar, Director of Public Policy, Communication Service for the Deaf
- Connie Beemer, Director, Member Services and Operations, Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association
- Verne Boerner, President and CEO, Alaska Native Health Board
- Tracy Brewer, Ohio University
- Eric Brown, President, California Telehealth Network
- Darryl Cooper, Attorney Advisor, FCC Disability Rights Office
- Danielle Dean, Policy Director, Communications and Technology, National Conference of State Legislatures
- Hank Fanberg, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Christus Health
- Beth Frazier, Alternative Communication Service
- Elaine Gardner, Attorney Advisor, FCC Disability Rights Office
- Tracy Hines, Program Administrator, Colorado Telehealth Network
- Ryan Hutchinson, Vice President, Communication Service for the Deaf
- Sherita Kennedy, Attorney Advisor, FCC Disability Rights Office
- Haley Nicholson, Senior Policy Specialist on Health and Human Services, National Conference of State Legislatures
- Dr. Maggie Nygren, Executive Director and CEO, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Joshua Seidemann, Vice President of Policy, NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association
- Suzy Singleton, Chief, FCC Disability Rights Office
- Nikki Soukup, Program Manager, Communication Service for the Deaf
- Dr. Douglas Waite, Medical Director, Keith Haring Clinic at Children’s Village
- John Windhausen, Executive Director, Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition
- Preston Wise, Attorney Advisor, FCC Wireline Competition Bureau
- Jon Zasada, Director of Policy Integration, Alaska Primary Care Association
Additional Connect2HealthFCC Task Force participants included:
- Dr. David K. Ahern, Special Advisor, Health Information Technology
- Michele Ellison, Deputy General Counsel, FCC and Task Force Chair
- Dr. M. Chris Gibbons, Senior Consultant
- Katie Gorscak, Director of Communications
- Dr. Kelly Murphy, Medical Fellow
- Karen Onyeije, Associate General Counsel, FCC and Task Force Chief of Staff
- Louis Peraertz, Attorney Advisor (Special Counsel)
- Dr. Yahya Shaikh, Senior Advisor
Virtual Listening Session #3 –Technology and Broadband Services Forum
The Connect2HealthFCC Task Force held its third virtual listening session on September 22, 2017. The Technology and Broadband Services Forum provided an opportunity for engineers working in the IoT and artificial intelligence space for large health care systems; representatives of wireless services providers; state and local government; health care providers; researchers; and providers of telemedicine and telehealth services to provide public comment to the Task Force.
Moderators: Louis Peraertz, Attorney Advisor (Special Counsel) and Dr. Yahya Shaikh, Senior Advisor, Connect2HealthFCC Task Force
Listen to the audio recording. View the written transcript.
Participants represented a broad cross-section of stakeholders from all over the country and included (in alphabetical order):
- Stephen Berger, President, TEM Consulting
- Verne Boerner, President and CEO, Alaska Native Health Board
- Tracy Brewer, Ohio University
- Troy Clavel, Vice President of Information Technology, Avera eCARE
- Darryl Cooper, Disability Rights Office, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
- Danielle Dean, Policy Director, National Conference of State Legislatures
- Steven Dorf, Chief Operating Officer, Telequality
- Stewart Ferguson, Chief Technology Officer, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
- Jodi Goldberg, Associate Corporate Counsel, Hughes Network
- Jeff Hallstrand, Plant Manager, Price County Telephone
- Rick Hampton, Wireless Communications Manager, Partners Healthcare
- Tracy Hines, Broadband Program Administrator, Colorado Telehealth Network
- Syed Zaeem Hosain, Chief Technical Officer, Aeris Communications, Inc.
- Paul Johnson, President, Nakaani
- Tim Koxlien, CEO, Telequality
- Terre Logsdon, Chief Operating Officer, Lake County Broadband Solutions
- Ethan Lucarelli, Director, Regulatory and Public Policy, Inmarsat
- Suzanne Malloy, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, o3b Networks
- Jackie McCarthy, Assistant Vice President-Regulatory Affairs, CTIA
- Courtney Neville, Policy Counsel, Competitive Carriers Association
- Kathy Osborn, Director, Colorado Telehealth Network
- Rick Schadelbauer, Manager, Economic Research and Analysis, NTCA-The Broadband Association
- Marc Siry, Vice President Strategic Development, Comcast
- Jane Snowdon, Associate Chief Health Officer, Data and Evidence, IBM Watson Health Care
- Joel Thayer, Policy Counsel, The App Association
- Colin Underwood, Healthcare Program Manager, Alaska Communications
- John Windhausen, Executive Director, Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition
- Preston Wise, Attorney, Wireline Competition Bureau
Additional Connect2HealthFCC Task Force participants included:
- Dr. David K. Ahern, Special Advisor, Health Information Technology
- Ben Bartolome, Special Counsel
- Michele Ellison, Deputy General Counsel, FCC and Task Force Chair
- Dr. M. Chris Gibbons, Senior Consultant
- Katie Gorscak, Director of Communications
- Dr. Kelly Murphy, Medical Fellow
- Karen Onyeije, Associate General Counsel, FCC and Task Force Chief of Staff
Virtual Listening Session #4 - Policymakers Forum
The Connect2HealthFCC Task Force held its fourth virtual listening session on September 27, 2017. The Policymakers Forum provided an opportunity for federal agencies; advocacy organizations; physicians; state legislatures, health departments and telehealth networks; community organizations; and universities to provide public comment to the Task Force.
Moderators: Karen Onyeije, Associate General Counsel, FCC and Chief of Staff, Connect2HealthFCC Task Force and Ben Bartolome, Special Counsel, Connect2HealthFCC Task Force
Listen to the audio recording. View the written transcript.
Participants represented a broad cross-section of stakeholders from all over the country and included:
- Tracy Brewer, Ohio University
- Timothy Carney, Senior Director, Health Informatics, Association of State Health Officials (ASTHO)
- Alison Drone, Senior Advisor, Innovation, Personal Connected Health Alliance
- Fred Eastman, Telehealth Technology Manager, Mercy Health Network - Midwest Rural Telemedicine Consortium
- William England, Director, Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
- Eli Fleet, Director of Federal Affairs, HIMSS
- Eric Frederick, Vice President for Community Affairs, Connected Nation and Connect Michigan
- Dr. Kevin Galpin, Executive Director, Telehealth Services, Office of Connected Care, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
- Elaine Gardner, Attorney Advisor, FCC Disability Rights Office
- Maria Givens, Policy Analyst, National Congress of American Indians
- Jeff Hallstrand, Plant Manager, Price County Telephone
- Kamala Hart, Outreach Liaison, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, FCC
- Dr. Leonie Heyworth, Acting National Telehealth Advisor for Primary Care, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
- Tracy Hines, Program Administrator, Colorado Telehealth Network
- Susan Howard, Director of Government Relations and Legislative Affairs, National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)
- Michael Iaquinta, Founder, iSelectMD
- Maureen Lewis, Director, Minority Telecommunications Development, National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA)
- Kevin Loux, Director of Strategic Partnerships, SOAR Kentucky
- Carolyn McCoy, Senior Director, Government Relations, Association of State Health Officials (ASTHO)
- Dr. Patty Mechael, Executive Vice President, Personal Connected Health Alliance
- Emily Moore, Senior Analyst, Health Transformation, Association of State Health Officials (ASTHO)
- Michael Morris, Director of Public Health Information Systems, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
- Cindy Muir, Director, CAO, Florida Public Service Commission
- Angelina Panettieri, Principal Associate for Technology and Communications,
Federal Advocacy, National League of Cities (NLC) - John Peters, Deputy Director for Telehealth Services, Office of Connected Care
Veterans Health Administration (VHA), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - Jennifer Plymale, Director, Robert C. Byrd Center for Rural Health at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
- Andy Rhea, Chief Information Officer, Cherokee Health Systems, Inc.
- Suleima Salgado, Director of Telehealth & Telemedicine, Georgia Department of Public Health
- Gayle Teicher, Attorney Advisor, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, FCC
- Jake Terrell, Associate Legislative Director for Telecommunications & Technology, National Association of Counties (NACo)
- Preston Wise, Attorney, Wireline Competition Bureau, FCC
- Chantal Worzala, Director of Policy, American Hospital Association
Additional Connect2HealthFCC Task Force participants included:
- Dr. David K. Ahern, Special Advisor, Health Information Technology
- Michele Ellison, Deputy General Counsel, FCC and Task Force Chair
- Dr. M. Chris Gibbons, Senior Consultant
- Katie Gorscak, Director of Communications
- Dr. Kelly Murphy, Medical Fellow
- Dr. Yahya Shaikh, Senior Advisor