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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Broadband

USDA Rural Utilities Service's Support for Tribes and Other Indigenous Entities
Provides an overview of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) programs that help offset the costs of building and repairing utility systems in rural areas. Describes the types of tribal and other Indigenous entities eligible to apply for RUS programs. Highlights two USDA Rural Development authorities that can help tribes and other Indigenous entities access RUS programs. Outlines issues Congress may consider if it chooses to constrict, maintain, or expand the laws governing these programs.
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Office for the Advancement of Telehealth Grantee Directory, 2023-2024
Provides contact information and brief overviews for 71 initiatives across eight grant programs administered by the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth in the 2024 funding year.
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office for the Advancement of Telehealth
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2024 County Health Rankings National Findings Report
Analyzes county-level health and wellness data, focusing on issues such as public investment and health equity. Includes information on access to broadband, information, civic infrastructure and services, and more. Provides U.S. map of county-level life expectancy (LE) and discusses the relationship of LE to civic health.
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
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The Future of the Universal Service Fund and Related Broadband Programs
Provides an overview of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) and its four programs: the High Cost Program, Lifeline Program, Rural Health Care Program, and Schools and Libraries Program. Describes legislation introduced in the 118th Congress that would impact the USF programs. Outlines considerations for Congress and five areas for possible reform.
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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ACP Consumer Survey
Survey of 5,317 Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) households to measure the impact of ACP participation on internet access and affordability. Includes rural breakdown of data and access to healthcare data.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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Snapshot of Rural Health in Colorado, 2024
Provides an overview of rural health in Colorado. Includes data and statistics on a variety of indicators, such as education, poverty, rural economy, healthcare coverage and access, rural health information technology, mental health, oral health, emergency medical services (EMS) and workforce shortages. Includes five regional snapshots from around the state.
Additional links: Eastern Plains Regional Snapshot, Mountain West Regional Snapshot, Northwest Regional Snapshot, San Luis Valley Regional Snapshot, Southwest Regional Snapshot
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Rural Health Center
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Minnesota Office of Broadband Development: Annual Report 2023
Discusses grant activity and milestones reached in 2023 to increase broadband availability in Minnesota. Provides maps and statistics related to broadband coverage, as well as rates of broadband coverage in non-metro areas.
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
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Telehealth Expansion, Internet Speed, and Primary Care Access Before and During COVID-19
Analyzes changes in primary care telehealth access among 172,387 Wisconsin Medicaid beneficiaries before and during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Covers the period June 2019 to December 2021, with data on telehealth visit count, telehealth share of visits, and PHE-induced decline in visits offset by telehealth. Assesses change in access over time by demographic characteristics, rural-urban dwelling, access to high speed internet, and health status.
Author(s): Alyssa Shell Tilhou, Arjun Jain, Thomas DeLeire
Citation: Jama Network Open, 7(1), e2347686
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
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Bridging a Care Gap: Policy Opportunities for Improving Access to Home-Based Primary Care
Recording of a panel discussion on home-based primary care for rural older adults and policies that could address challenges with offering and accessing home-based primary care. Discusses telehealth, broadband, community infrastructure, service models, community health workers, and more. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Duke Margolis Institute for Health Policy
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What's in it for Rural? Analyzing the Opportunities for Rural America in IIJA, CHIPS, and IRA
Evaluates the significance to rural areas of appropriations and authorizations approved by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS), and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Identifies rural-significant funding by agency and sector, and discusses economic and financial aspects of allocations and funding structure. Summarizes major appropriations in infrastructure, energy, climate resilience, broadband, environment, and more. Provides recommendations for use and reporting of funds by officials, agencies, and policymakers.
Author(s): Anthony F. Pipa, Elise Pietro
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: The Brookings Institution
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