Eligible Services

Health Care Providers (HCPs) are permitted to apply to receive reduced rates for a variety of telecommunication services under the RHCD program. HCPs may seek support for multiple telecommunications services of any bandwidth and for monthly Internet service charges.

Examples of Eligible Telecommunications Services and Charges

Eligible telecommunications services and charges include, but are not limited to:

• Mileage Related Charges
• T3 or DS3
• T1
• Fractional T1
• ISDN (BRI and PRI)
• Frame Relay
• ATM
• Off-Premise Extension
• Satellite Service
• Centrex
• Dedicated Private Line
• Foreign Exchange Line
• Network Reconfiguration Service
• Direct Inward Dialing
• Onetime (Installation) Charges
• Wireless or microwave services
• DSL

RHCD will support these services up to the Maximum Allowable Distance (MAD), while the applicant will be responsible for the cost of services beyond the MAD.

Ineligible Telecommunications Equipment and Charges

Telecommunications equipment does not qualify for support under the RHCD program. The following examples are not eligible:

• Computers
• Fax machines
• Video cameras
• Telephones, cellular phones, pagers, PDAs
• Maintenance charges
• Franchises, zone charges and surcharges

RHCD will NOT support the cost of construction or infrastructure build-out for the installation of telecommunications services. For example, if a wall must be removed, a street dug up, or a cable laid, these costs would not be eligible for support.

Special Eligibility for Internet Access

Not-for-profit HCPs, in both rural and urban areas, which incur long distance toll charges to access the Internet may qualify for support for these telecommunications charges. i. In this case, HCPs may receive the lesser of 30 hours or $180.00 per month to pay for these toll-charges. (This only pertains to toll-charges to reach the Internet. Support for Internet access charges must be applied for separately on Form 466-A.)

Examples of Eligible Internet Services and Charges

Eligible Internet services are limited to the following:

• Monthly Internet access charge
• Email
• Web hosting

Equipment and certain Internet services do not qualify for support under the RHCD program. The following items are not eligible:

• Caching
• Filtering content
• Training
• Servers
• Web casting
• Equipment and wiring
• Maintenance