CHICAGO – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin last month launched a $417 million telehealth project that government officials say will help rural healthcare providers across the country provide better care.

The $417 million has been awarded as grants in 42 states and three U.S. territories. The project is part of the Rural Health Pilot Program.

The pilot program is designed to help rural healthcare facilities take advantage of telemedicine programs, electronic health records and other information technology.

“In order to receive the benefits of telemedicine, electronic healthcare records and other healthcare benefits, health providers must have access to underlying broadband infrastructure,” Martin said. “Without this underlying infrastructure, efforts to implement these advances in healthcare cannot succeed.”