IOWA RURAL HEALTH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM

THE PURPOSE OF THE IOWA RURAL HEALTH TELECOMMUNICATION PROGRAM (IRHTP) IS TO IMPROVE EQUITY, ACCESS, QUALITY, SECURITY, AND EFFICIENCY OF MEDICAL SERVICES, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL IOWA, THROUGH THE USE OF VARIOUS TELEHEALTH AND TELEMEDICINE APPLICATIONS. THE IRHTP IS A JOINT EFFORT CONSISTING OF A CONSORTIUM OF HOSPITALS AND THE IOWA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK (ICN) WITH THE PURPOSE TO CONNECT WILLING IOWA HOSPITALS AND HOSPITALS IN SURROUNDING STATES TO A DEDICATED BROADBAND FIBER NETWORK USING EXISTING ICN INFRASTRUCTURE.THROUGH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE ICN FOR ADMINISTRATION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE DEDICATED NETWORK, USE OF THE NETWORK WITH BE INITIATED BY HOSPITALS CONTRACTING WITH THE ICN FOR BROADBAND SERVICE. THE COST OF MAINTAINING THE NEW LAST MILE FIBER CONNECTIONS, NETWORK ELECTRONICS AND CO-LOCATION FEES, AND WAVELENGTH SERVICE FEES WILL BE COVERED BY STANDARDIZED MONTHLY CONNECTION AND BANDWIDTH FEES.