The Federal Communications Commission's Connect2Health Task Force will hold four virtual listening sessions on the broadband health divide in August and September.
The hour-long listening sessions are an extension of the agency's public notice in April seeking data and comments on how to accelerate digital health accessibility. The task force is looking for recommendations on policy, technical and infrastructure issues related to broadband-enabled healthcare.
The goal of the events, which will connect participants via teleconference technology, is 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, D.C., area." The task force is asking various industry stakeholders to participate.
Here is the timeline for the four listening sessions, each of which relates to a different stakeholder group.
Week of Aug. 7: Health Care Provider Forum. Health system administrators and CIOs; clinicians and other healthcare providers; community health officials; small medical practices; public safety and emergency medical services professionals; and researchers
Week of Sept. 11: Rural and Consumer Issues Forum. Associations and advocacy groups representing rural interests, Tribal lands, people with disabilities, veterans and older Americans
Week of Sept. 18: Technology and Broadband Services Forum. Telecommunications carriers, broadband services providers, manufacturers, innovators and entrepreneurs
Week of Sept. 25: Policymakers Forum. Federal policymakers; state and local health officials; associations representing state, county and city health officials; state and local officials involved in developing technology and broadband policies and strategies; and other policymakers
Click here to view the full notice.