Health care experts warn that the Federal CommunicationCommission’s repeal of net neutrality – which requires ISPs toallot the same internet bandwidth to all sites -- would severelycurtail telemedicine services to individuals who livein rural areas, as well as low-income peopleeverywhere who couldn’t afford to pay for speedier sites.

While the FFC believes have a tiered system would actually helpeveryone, health care experts disagree.

An FCC spokesperson tells ModernHealthcare: “With internet-enabled healthcare apps and services, paidprioritization could be the difference between life and death forpatients who require very reliable and fast connectivity for healthmonitoring, consultation, and service delivery.”

The spokesperson says that FCC Chairman Pai's proposals would“unleash innovation and investment in networks, providing betterconnectivity for rural and underserved hospitals and reducing costseverywhere.”

However, the Center for Connected Health Policy tells ModernHealthcare that rural and community health centers may strugglebecause they “likely will not have the resources to pay for a fastconnection in a tiered system.”

Moreover, larger health care organizations may fare better thansmaller ones if net neutrality ends because they better access tothe country’s high-capacity internet data routes, adds JohnHalamka, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s chief informationofficer.

Governments across the globe are trying to increase access tohealth care in all areas of their countries, even the remotestparts – and telemedicine is the answer, according to Infiniti Research.

“By bringing telecommunications and information technology onthe same platform, telemedicine makes it easier for the physiciansto overcome the geographical barrier and reach out to theirpatients,” Infiniti Research writes. “One of the best innovationsin the healthcare industry, telemedicine has emerged as one of themost cost-effective means to provide high-quality healthservices.”

However, “ending the era of net neutrality” would result in muchmore expensive services, or slower services for rural areas and forthose everywhere who can’t afford pricier services.

“Today, the two major drivers of change in the healthcareindustry are technology and free access to information -- repealingof net neutrality will be a major roadblock for digitalhealthcare,” Infiniti Research writes. “It is essential that theopinions and concerns of all the major stakeholders in thehealthcare industry be considered before rolling back the netneutrality policy.”