The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC or Commission) Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB or Bureau) has extended the temporary waivers of the Rural Health Care (RHC) and E-Rate programs’ gift rules through June 30, 2021, the end of the programs’ funding years, due to the ongoing disruptions caused by COVID-19. The waivers were set to expire on December 31, 2020. The Commission determined that the extension of the gift rules would assist rural health care providers, schools, and libraries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as the need for telemedicine and remote learning continues to persist.
