Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Broadband
USDA's ReConnect Program: Expanding Rural Broadband
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's ReConnect program, which provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to build and enhance broadband infrastructure in eligible rural service areas. Summarizes program details, funding allocations, the three rounds of awards, and funding awards by state. Compares the ReConnect program with other USDA broadband programs. Identifies issues that may impact the program's effectiveness, related legislation introduced in the 117th Congress, and potential policy options.
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's ReConnect program, which provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to build and enhance broadband infrastructure in eligible rural service areas. Summarizes program details, funding allocations, the three rounds of awards, and funding awards by state. Compares the ReConnect program with other USDA broadband programs. Identifies issues that may impact the program's effectiveness, related legislation introduced in the 117th Congress, and potential policy options.
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Broadband Availability vs. Adoption: Which Matters More for Economic Development?
Evaluates research on broadband availability and adoption in order to understand their relevance to economic development. Identifies impacts on business, employment, household and farm outcomes, and more. Highlights rural-specific studies and findings.
Author(s): Brian Whitacre, Roberto Gallardo
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Development Center
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Evaluates research on broadband availability and adoption in order to understand their relevance to economic development. Identifies impacts on business, employment, household and farm outcomes, and more. Highlights rural-specific studies and findings.
Author(s): Brian Whitacre, Roberto Gallardo
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Development Center
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Broadband Impact on Education and Workforce during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Analyzes impacts of a mobile hotspot lending program in eight rural Tennessee counties during the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides data on participant characteristics, interest in broadband subscription, and effects of COVID-19 on work productivity, school attendance, and academic performance. Describes policies and frameworks for the implementation of similar broadband access programs.
Author(s): Isabella Baxter, Sreedhar Upendram
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Development Center
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Analyzes impacts of a mobile hotspot lending program in eight rural Tennessee counties during the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides data on participant characteristics, interest in broadband subscription, and effects of COVID-19 on work productivity, school attendance, and academic performance. Describes policies and frameworks for the implementation of similar broadband access programs.
Author(s): Isabella Baxter, Sreedhar Upendram
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Development Center
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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Statewide Broadband Plan
Outlines goals and strategies to expand broadband access to rural and underserved areas of Pennsylvania. Describes importance of broadband in providing adequate, reliable emergency services, and enhancing tools to ensure access to healthcare services.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
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Outlines goals and strategies to expand broadband access to rural and underserved areas of Pennsylvania. Describes importance of broadband in providing adequate, reliable emergency services, and enhancing tools to ensure access to healthcare services.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
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Geospatial Analysis of Access to Health Care and Internet Services in the US
Study examining access to healthcare and internet services based on 2015-2019 American Community Survey data. Discusses implementations of findings for telemedicine expansion and the need for improved internet access to address rural-urban health disparities.
Author(s): Emefah C. Loccoh, Amanda Nguyen, Gaeun Kim, Haider J. Warraich
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(11), e2243792
Date: 11/2022
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Study examining access to healthcare and internet services based on 2015-2019 American Community Survey data. Discusses implementations of findings for telemedicine expansion and the need for improved internet access to address rural-urban health disparities.
Author(s): Emefah C. Loccoh, Amanda Nguyen, Gaeun Kim, Haider J. Warraich
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(11), e2243792
Date: 11/2022
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Broadband: USDA Should Set Performance Goals and Improve Fraud Risk Management for Funding Program
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ReConnect program, which awards grants and loans to provide broadband service in rural areas. Analyzes ReConnect award and application data from 2018 through 2021 to examine the program's performance goals and alignment with selected leading fraud risk management practices. Offers recommendations to USDA on ReConnect's performance goals and fraud risk management.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ReConnect program, which awards grants and loans to provide broadband service in rural areas. Analyzes ReConnect award and application data from 2018 through 2021 to examine the program's performance goals and alignment with selected leading fraud risk management practices. Offers recommendations to USDA on ReConnect's performance goals and fraud risk management.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Majority of Households in the Island Areas Own a Computer and Have Broadband Internet
Presents findings from the 2020 Island Area Censuses (IACs) on computer and broadband internet access in U.S. island territories. Breaks down data by island and shows changes since the 2010 Census. Discusses the 2020 IAC questionnaire and offers a variety of data comparisons.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Presents findings from the 2020 Island Area Censuses (IACs) on computer and broadband internet access in U.S. island territories. Breaks down data by island and shows changes since the 2010 Census. Discusses the 2020 IAC questionnaire and offers a variety of data comparisons.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Rural Students' Access to the Internet
Provides percentages of students who have access to fixed broadband by city, suburban, town, and rural locale, which is further broken down by fringe, distant, or remote areas. Includes discussions of related broadband issues such as influences of poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Education Statistics
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Provides percentages of students who have access to fixed broadband by city, suburban, town, and rural locale, which is further broken down by fringe, distant, or remote areas. Includes discussions of related broadband issues such as influences of poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Education Statistics
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State Policies that Impact Rural Broadband Availability
Research brief discussing state-level broadband policy. Summarizes study results related to funding, state broadband offices, municipal restrictions, and policies promoting fiber access.
Author(s): Brian Whitacre, Christina Biedny
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Development Center
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Research brief discussing state-level broadband policy. Summarizes study results related to funding, state broadband offices, municipal restrictions, and policies promoting fiber access.
Author(s): Brian Whitacre, Christina Biedny
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Development Center
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A Granular Look at Internet Speeds and Demographic Groups: Implications for Digital Equity
Research brief on geographic variation in internet speed, utilizing 2020 Census block-level data. Provides statistics on national, Southern, and state-by-state rural-urban broadband speed disparities, with breakdowns by race and ethnicity and presence of children. Discusses barriers to access, broadband, and digital equity.
Author(s): Roberto Gallardo, Brian Whitacre
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Development Center
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Research brief on geographic variation in internet speed, utilizing 2020 Census block-level data. Provides statistics on national, Southern, and state-by-state rural-urban broadband speed disparities, with breakdowns by race and ethnicity and presence of children. Discusses barriers to access, broadband, and digital equity.
Author(s): Roberto Gallardo, Brian Whitacre
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Development Center
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