What are the goals of the CTN project?
With funding from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s Rural Health Care Pilot Program and other investors (e.g., California Emerging Technology Fund and UnitedHealth Group Inc.), the CTN project plans to address the following five goals: • Create a statewide broadband network dedicated to health care, connecting public and non-profit health care providers in rural and urban locations; • Link the CTN to a national backbone, connecting government research institutions, academic, public, and private health care institutions, giving health care providers increased access to medical expertise, continuing education and research; • Leverage and build upon recent investments in telehealth; • Utilize CTN for ongoing disaster preparedness training to enhance California’s ability to provide a rapid, coordinated response to a national crisis; and • Report back to the FCC on the pilot program and suggested revisions to the FCC’s current rural health rules.
