A new order released by the FCC in December will expand broadband access for some health-care providers. But the program may also hamstring the use of telemedicine by doctors who will need to pay more out of pocket to get online. Called the Healthcare Connect Fund, the program will subsidize 65 percent of broadband costs for participating providers. That's down significantly from the 85 percent subsidy in the FCC's existing Rural Health Care pilot program, which was established by the 1996 Telecommunications Act.
