Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Broadband
Examining the Relationship Between Health Literacy and the Primary Source of Information for Healthcare Services among Rural Residents
Analyzes relationships between health literacy and use of the internet, community newsletters, television, text-based communication, and other methods as a primary source for healthcare services information among 464 survey respondents living in Oklahoma's rural Tillman and Harmon counties. Discusses how health communication strategies can be tailored by information source for different rural groups to improve healthcare information sharing and access to services.
Author(s): Xuewei Chen, Tao Hu, Rose W. Njoroge, Ming Li, Gary Kreps
Citation: Health Behavior Research, 8(4)
Date: 10/2025
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Analyzes relationships between health literacy and use of the internet, community newsletters, television, text-based communication, and other methods as a primary source for healthcare services information among 464 survey respondents living in Oklahoma's rural Tillman and Harmon counties. Discusses how health communication strategies can be tailored by information source for different rural groups to improve healthcare information sharing and access to services.
Author(s): Xuewei Chen, Tao Hu, Rose W. Njoroge, Ming Li, Gary Kreps
Citation: Health Behavior Research, 8(4)
Date: 10/2025
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Technological Innovation in Rural Health and Human Services Spaces, with Dan Shane
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Dan Shane, Associate Professor with the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis. Focuses opportunities for applying technological advances in rural health and human services, potential challenges, and future avenues of development.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Dan Shane, Associate Professor with the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis. Focuses opportunities for applying technological advances in rural health and human services, potential challenges, and future avenues of development.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Stuck in the Middle: Internet Insecurity in Rural America
Reports on internet insecurity and internet use among 2,600 rural households in Michigan and Colorado, with additional data and discussion of factors influencing rural internet access throughout the United States.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Connected Nation
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Reports on internet insecurity and internet use among 2,600 rural households in Michigan and Colorado, with additional data and discussion of factors influencing rural internet access throughout the United States.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Connected Nation
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State Strategies for Strengthening Rural Health: Insights from NASHP's 2025 Annual Conference
Summarizes a session from the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) 2025 Annual Conference regarding state strategies to improve access to care in rural communities. Highlights policies from North Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia related to workforce and capacity challenges, broadband and telehealth, behavioral health access points, and linking health and social care.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Summarizes a session from the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) 2025 Annual Conference regarding state strategies to improve access to care in rural communities. Highlights policies from North Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia related to workforce and capacity challenges, broadband and telehealth, behavioral health access points, and linking health and social care.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program: Issues for the 119th Congress
Provides an overview of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which was created in 2021 to provide broadband service to locations that lack access. Describes concerns that have been raised by stakeholders regarding the implementation of the BEAD Program. Presents options for Congress related to overseeing and addressing concerns about the BEAD Program.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which was created in 2021 to provide broadband service to locations that lack access. Describes concerns that have been raised by stakeholders regarding the implementation of the BEAD Program. Presents options for Congress related to overseeing and addressing concerns about the BEAD Program.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Access and Quality of Mental Health Services in Rural and Urban America
Research brief documenting recent trends in mental healthcare access and quality in urban and rural communities. Features state-level maps showing locations of mental health facilities, a county-level map with shadings showing driving distances to any mental health facility or access to telehealth, and statistics on ZIP code area demographics, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural area.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Sophia N.D. Negaro, Rachel M. Hantman, et al.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Research brief documenting recent trends in mental healthcare access and quality in urban and rural communities. Features state-level maps showing locations of mental health facilities, a county-level map with shadings showing driving distances to any mental health facility or access to telehealth, and statistics on ZIP code area demographics, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural area.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Sophia N.D. Negaro, Rachel M. Hantman, et al.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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The Universal Service Fund and Related FCC Broadband Programs: Overview and Considerations for Congress
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: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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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: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Telehealth-Readiness, Healthcare Access, and Cardiovascular Health in the Deep South: A Spatial Perspective
Examines the spatial distribution and social determinants of coronary heart disease (CHD) and CHD-related mortality across 428 counties in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Explores how enabling resources, such as healthcare provider availability and broadband infrastructure; sociodemographic characteristics; and access barriers relate to cardiovascular burden.
Author(s): Ruaa Al Juboori, Dylan Barker, Andrew Yockey, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(7), 1020
Date: 06/2025
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Examines the spatial distribution and social determinants of coronary heart disease (CHD) and CHD-related mortality across 428 counties in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Explores how enabling resources, such as healthcare provider availability and broadband infrastructure; sociodemographic characteristics; and access barriers relate to cardiovascular burden.
Author(s): Ruaa Al Juboori, Dylan Barker, Andrew Yockey, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(7), 1020
Date: 06/2025
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The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2019-2023 American Community Survey Chartbook
State- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status, for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
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State- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status, for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
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Broadband Programs: Agencies Need to Further Improve Their Data Quality and Coordination Efforts
Examines federal agencies' use of broadband availability information and the extent to which the Federal Communications Commission ensures the quality of data in its National Broadband Map. Explores the extent to which agencies' coordination of broadband funding programs aligns with leading practices for interagency collaboration, among other issues. Compares the FCC's practices for ensuring the quality of information in its National Broadband Map against relevant federal internal control standards.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines federal agencies' use of broadband availability information and the extent to which the Federal Communications Commission ensures the quality of data in its National Broadband Map. Explores the extent to which agencies' coordination of broadband funding programs aligns with leading practices for interagency collaboration, among other issues. Compares the FCC's practices for ensuring the quality of information in its National Broadband Map against relevant federal internal control standards.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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