This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Broadband

The Future of Telehealth Roundtable: The Potential Impact of Emerging Technologies on Health Equity
Presents insights and key ideas from a roundtable on the future of telehealth following the COVID-19 pandemic, covering barriers to telehealth delivery, opportunities for equitable care, and policy and regulatory issues impacting telehealth access. Includes rural mentions throughout.
Date: 05/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Committee for Quality Assurance
view details
Broadband Availability Challenges
Fact sheet describing challenges to broadband availability and local efforts to provide short-term solutions. Discusses funding and strategies to expand broadband at the local and national levels.
Additional links: Exploring Digital Equity Fact Sheets
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
view details
Broadband Access Challenges
Fact sheet highlighting barriers to broadband access for rural and underserved communities, addressing infrastructure and affordability issues. Describes policy efforts to increase access through investments to expand broadband adoption.
Additional links: Exploring Digital Equity Fact Sheets
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
view details
Health Panel Comment Letter – Promoting Telehealth in Rural America
Offers comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission's proposed rule for Promoting Telehealth in America. Discusses rural classifications for healthcare providers, defining rural areas for program participation, and an alternative method to determine degrees of rurality.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
view details
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Rural Playbook: A Roadmap for Delivering Opportunity and Investments in Rural America
Information from the Biden Administration developed to help rural communities understand the infrastructure funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other sources. Identifies programs and sources of funding set aside for rural communities. Also explains key flexibilities and other benefits available to rural communities under the law.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: The White House (Biden Administration)
view details
USDA Strategic Plan: Fiscal Years 2022-2026
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) strategic plan for fiscal years 2022-2026, setting strategic goals related to environmental health, access to services, conservation, economic development, housing, infrastructure, and more. Discusses investment and programs for rural and tribal communities throughout.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
view details
Rural Rising: Economic Development Strategies for America's Heartland
Discusses rural economic development strategies and categorizes rural communities based on proximity to urban areas, tourism, and economic drivers. Offers examples of economic development in different types of rural communities and highlights elements of thriving rural communities, including workforce, access to broadband and healthcare, and community partnerships.
Author(s): Mike Kerlin, Neil O'Farrell, Rachel Riley, Rachel Schaff
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: McKinsey and Company
view details
Rural Imperatives in Broadband Adoption and Digital Inclusion
Report examining broadband adoption by age, race, educational attainment, and household income, and discussing strategies for rural providers to expand outreach and adoption efforts toward digital inclusion. Discusses the impact of rural demographics on broadband adoption, including a section on healthcare access and outcomes.
Author(s): Joshua Seidemann, Roxanna Barboza
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association
view details
Public-Safety Broadband Network: Congressional Action Required to Ensure Network Continuity
Provides an overview of the implementation progress of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) public-safety broadband network, including network coverage in rural and non-rural areas as of March 2021. Reviews FirstNet's statutory requirements and contract responsibilities Congress should consider before FirstNet's authority sunsets in 2027. Explores options to oversee and manage the network when this authority sunsets, as well as the associated operational implications and potential costs.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
A New Era of Health Literacy? Expanded Definitions, Digital Influences, and Rural Perspectives
Explores rural challenges to accessing health information that is clear and usable, with insights from experts. Describes recently expanded definitions of health literacy. Discusses digital health literacy and the importance of broadband access and digital health tools for rural residents.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details