Insights

Happy Summer! After a spring of rainy weekends, may we enjoy some great summer weather.

I am very pleased to report that on June 27, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision upholding the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund (USF) the foundational funding mechanism for the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) and NETC’s broader subsidy programs. This ruling is a decisive victory for the future of federally supported broadband connectivity for healthcare. It eliminates a major legal threat that could have jeopardized funding for NETC members and healthcare networks nationwide. It is a tremendous relief to have the U.S. Supreme Court confirm the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund (USF). Its ruling in the case (FCC v. Consumers’ Research and SHLB v. Consumers’ Research) ensures the future of broadband access for thousands and thousands of rural healthcare providers across the country. I am very proud of our significant advocacy efforts and pleased that we played a small part in this very significant and positive outcome. 

NETC received 75 approved Funding Commitment Letters (FCL) for the 2024 fiscal year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025). Those FCLs captured $15.25 million in subsidy. One application was still pending approval as of this writing.

While also responding to hundreds of USAC 2024 information requests, our managing agent (ProInfoNet)’s staff completed fiscal year 2025 (July1, 2025 to June 30, 2026) bid processing, contract signing, and funding application submissions for 204 healthcare providers totaling nearly $25,000,000! That is an outstanding accomplishment. Kudos to the staff for such a tremendous effort.

One of the funding applications submitted for FY 2025 is seeking funding for the planning and implementation of the Next Generation of our private network. The objectives of NextGen are to future proof the network, adopt state of the art technology, support future growth and demand, and plan for end of support hardware replacement in 2026 -2027. If the funding application is approved, it will provide just over $2,000.000 in subsidy. 

During this year (7/1/24 to 6/30/25), six new healthcare systems representing 95 healthcare sites have joined NETC. Today, NETC is serving 1,394 healthcare sites! There are five more systems representing 247 healthcare sites that have indicated they plan to join as well. NETC is pleased to be a trusted partner with all of you. NETC and ProInfoNet continued to strive to deliver value, dependability, and exemplary service. Thank you for your continued support of NETC and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.