AHA Connectivity Consortium

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What is the Connectivity Consortium?

The Arkansas Hospital Association Connectivity Consortium is a cost-effective way for member hospitals and their affiliated clinics and other sites to access the subsidies through the FCC’s Healthcare Connect Fund. In order to approach the project in the most effective and efficient way possible, we've connected with the Federal Funding Group, a company that specializes in federal funding applications for building community communication infrastructure. Through this partnership, we hope to meet the needs of Arkansas hospitals by identifying all possible solutions for meeting those needs by applying for access to subsidies. 

What is the FCC Healthcare Connect Fund?

On December 12, 2012, the Federal Communications Commission created the Healthcare Connect Fund to expand access for health care providers to robust networks. The program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Co. The Healthcare Connect Fund:

• Supports broadband connectivity and broadband networks for health care providers (HCPs).
• Encourages use of a consortium to save costs and expand access to health care resources.
• Provides 65% discount on broadband services, equipment, connections to research and education networks, HCP-constructed and owned facilities if shown to be the most cost-effective option.
  
   

Who is eligible to participate in the consortium?

• Public or not-for-profit hospitals.
• Non-rural hospitals may participate, if they belong to a consortium that has a majority of members that are rural HCPs.
• Large hospitals (400 + patient beds) are eligible, but support is capped if non-rural.
  
   

What types of services are eligible for federal subsidies?

• Broadband services
• Routers
• Switches
• Firewall services
• Construction, engineering, inspection services, management services and make ready costs
• Network management services
• Fiber
• Maintenance agreements
• Network design, maintenance and equipment
• PRIs
• SIP

Full list provided upon request.

Learn more about joining the consortium: 

• Download and complete the consortium application packet.
• FFG Funding Timeline
• Contact Tina Creel to find out more about the program and the benefits of the consortium. 

Even if you already participate in the Healthcare Connect Fund program with another provider, you may still want to check with FFG to be sure there are not any additional subsidies that could be received. 

Watch here to learn more about how to maximize your funding opportunity with the AHA Connectivity Consortium

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