...to the internet. Some of these are voluntary opt-outs, but 23.4 million live in rural areas without access, with huge economic consequences estimated in the hundreds of billions. TV white spaces can also expand coverage in small cities and more densely populated areas, including usages such as within buildings. This effort also presses the FCC, which in turn has pressed for broadband for two decades, to ensure that at least three channels below 700 MHz are kept unlicensed in all markets in the US, with more TV white spaces for rural areas. The first part, the Rural Airband Initiative, builds... Continue Reading
Search Results for fcc
Telemedicine reduced hospital readmissions by 40% in rural Virginia: UVA study
In last week’s Senate subcommittee hearings on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s Universal Broadband Fund and Rural Healthcare (RHC) program, the University of Virginia’s Center for Telehealth chalked up some substantial results confirming the effectiveness of telemedicine in rural areas. In advocating further funding for an expansion of the program, they presented the following: A 40 percent reduction in 30-day same cause hospital readmissions for patients with heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, stroke, and joint replacement It enabled over 65,000 live interactive patient consultations and follow-up visits with high definition video within 60 different clinical... Continue Reading
Broadband and health in USA
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been investigating [grow_thumb image=”https://telecareaware.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/C2H-BroadbandMap_Gaps-America.png” thumb_width=”150″ /]the relationship between broadband and health in the US through their Connect2Health Task Force and this week it has released an online tool “Mapping Broadband Health in America”. It is an interactive map that allows users to visualise, overlay and analyse broadband and health data at the national, state and county levels. This tool allows easy access to existing health and broadband access data to anyone who wants to look at the possible influence of broadband access on health over a period of time or to identify gaps which... Continue Reading
Rounding up best medtech in 2015
Medgadget’s 2015 roundup looks at nine innovative and in some cases life-saving medtech systems. These cover ground from diagnostics to robotic exoskeletons, from hearts to eyes and ears. Some are obviously early stage research projects, others are close to market. In eyewear news, a revamped Google Glass made the news with its FCC filing; we look at the Glass reboot and rival facial tech. Evena Eyes-On ultrasound/infrared goggles that let the wearer visualize the peripheral and deeper vasculature for venipuncture procedures. [grow_thumb image=”https://telecareaware.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/new-glass.jpg” thumb_width=”150″ /]And speaking of eyewear, Google Glass 2.0 made the end-of-year news with its leaked FCC filing... Continue Reading
A good week for telehealth in Senate committee hearings (US)
In contrast to last week’s deletion of telemedicine by the House Energy and Commerce committee from ’21st Century Cures’, this past Tuesday’s Senate Commerce subcommittee on Communications hearing was far more cheering for both telehealth and telemedicine advocates. More than twelve Senators spoke on behalf of telehealth expansion, especially Medicare reimbursement for telehealth in rural areas where there is limited care access. Holding this expansion back, according to iHealthBeat, are four factors: the limited cross-state licensing for physicians; the sluggishness of the Federal Communications Commission–despite initiatives such as Connect2HealthFCC [TTA 6 Mar 14], the FCC has blocked subsidies for nursing... Continue Reading
‘Hackermania running wild,’ part 2
...may or may not be detected by a conventional phone. Of course ESD sells a phone built on the Samsung S3 body called the CryptoPhone 500 which can detect attacks, so they have a horse in the race. Interceptors appear to be common in Asia, the hacking haven. But here in the US, who owns these interceptor towers and where’s the information going? And this is not ‘black helicopter’ stuff: on 11 August, the US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) announced their investigation into the use of interceptors against Americans by foreign intelligence services and criminal gangs. Popular Science, MSN Money.... Continue Reading
HHS draft report on health IT framework published
...“in consultation” with ONC and, not unexpectedly, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Another recommendation (page 28) is the establishment of a ‘tri-Agency memorandum of understanding (MOU)’ to further determine their working relationship in this area. There’s a 90 day comment period on the 34 page report, which is perfect for weekend reading (!) How this onion will eventually be peeled, rather than quartered, remains to be seen, as does anything emanating from Foggy Bottom. FDA release. Report. FierceMobileHealthcare. Update 8 April: A good summary of criticism and approval of the framework to date appears in iHealthBeat from the California Health... Continue Reading
FDA finally issues proposed rule simplifying medical device classification
...language for ‘general controls’ (I) and ‘special controls’ (II). The rule also clarifies five categories of devices to be included in the highest potential risk category, Class III. There are cheers from the usual quarters — Brad Thompson of the mHealth Regulatory Coalition, and more. Health Data Management. National Law Review. iHealthBeat (though Editor Donna cautions that the “lowest regulatory class” followed by the Class III five categories is misleading.) Previously in TTA about FDA and mobile health: Most recently, The PROTECT Act doesn’t, FCC elbows up to the mHealth table. Also see our multiple 2013 articles here:FDA mobile health.... Continue Reading
FCC sharply elbows up to the mHealth regulatory table
...our files, this Editor notes that the FCC has vigorously fenced not only with the FDA, but also with HHS, NIH, NIST and Congress for its place in the Federal HIT regulatory firmament. With issues such as ‘net neutrality’, wireless bandwidth and rural broadband, the FCC has a heaping healthcare helping on its plate just in assuring national access and removing conflicts in frequency demands by devices. However, the task force is headed by Michele Ellison, lately the FCC’s top regulatory enforcer with, as The Hill notes, 6,000 actions under her belt. In Foggy Bottom, things are never what they... Continue Reading
Net neutrality’s end and effect on telehealth (US)
With its recent decision in ending ‘net neutrality’ as directed in the FCC‘s 2010 Open Internet Order, the (Washington) DC Circuit Court of Appeals has changed the playing field for mHealth. The FCC regulation treated internet service providers (ISPs) like telecommunications companies by enforcing telecom ‘common carriage’ requirements that prevented ISPs from blocking or discriminating against types or providers of internet traffic. The current situation is now a double-edged sword for the ISPs: on one edge, ISPs such as Verizon, Comcast or Charter won, because they now can charge fees to, slow down or demand revenue sharing of high-demand content... Continue Reading
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