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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Broadband

Our Wireless Future: Building a Comprehensive Approach to Spectrum Policy
Documents related to a U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing focused on policies affecting access to wireless internet. Addresses access to wireless in rural tribal areas, spectrum for emergency operations, options for expanding rural broadband access, and uses for broadband access. Includes testimony from the Federal Communications Commission, MuralNet, Competitive Carriers Association, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and others.
Additional links: Hearing Recording, Julius P. Knapp Testimony, Mariel Triggs Testimony, Michael Calabrese Testimony, Peter Pitsch Testimony, Tim Donovan Testimony
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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Telehealth in Rural America
Policy brief focused on telehealth in the rural U.S. Addresses state and national policies related to insurance coverage of telehealth, infrastructure challenges such as broadband access, licensure issues, reimbursement, and other barriers to telehealth access.
Author(s): Windy Alonso, Elizabeth Crouch, Nicole Thorell
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Broadband Mapping: Small Carrier Perspectives on a Path Forward
Congressional hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure regarding challenges to developing accurate broadband access maps to help direct funding to rural areas without broadband services. Includes testimony from the Competitive Carriers Association, The Rural Broadband Association, WTA-Advocates for Rural Broadband, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Additional links: Beth Osler Testimony, Dan Stelpflug Testimony, Jason Hendricks Testimony, Tim Donovan Testimony
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: U.S. House of Representatives
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Broadband Deployment: Status and Federal Programs
Addresses the availability of broadband in rural, urban, and tribal areas of the U.S.; percent of households with broadband; and federal programs supporting broadband development and adoption.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Broadband Availability and Access in Rural Pennsylvania
Report details broadband access in rural Pennsylvania. Discussed broadband speed and the role it plays in rural telehealth services. Features a literature review and policy recommendations.
Author(s): Sascha D. Meinrath, Hannah Bonestroo, Georgia Bullen, et al.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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2018 Farm Bill Primer: Rural Development Programs
Highlights the new rural development provisions included in the 2018 Farm Bill, which address rural access to high-speed broadband, rural health, loans and grants for rural water and wastewater infrastructure, economic development, and more. Outlines changes in how rural is defined for these programs.
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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LIFT America: Modernizing Our Infrastructure for the Future
Recording of a hearing from the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce regarding the Leading Infrastructure For Tomorrow's America Act (The LIFT America Act), which addresses access to broadband; the healthcare, energy, transportation, and water infrastructures; public health; and more. Includes testimonies from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Trust for America's Health, U.S. Conference of Mayors, American Enterprise Institute, BlueGreen Alliance, and the former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner.
Additional links: Christopher Guith Testimony, Daniel Lyons Testimony, Jessica Eckdish Testimony, John Auerbach Testimony, Mignon Clyburn Testimony
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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Statement of Chairman Ajit Pai, Federal Communications Commission: Hearing on the FCC's Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request
Offers a statement from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman on the 2020 FCC budget at a hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcomittee on Financial Services and General Government. Addresses federal investments in rural broadband and the rural healthcare program, the impact of those investments, and future plans.
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organizations: Federal Communications Commission, Senate Committee on Appropriations
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Report on Promoting Broadband Internet Access Service for Veterans Pursuant to the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services Act of 2018
Provides an overview of broadband access and broadband adoption for low-income and rural veteran households. Details barriers for veterans accessing broadband and efforts to increase access, such as the Universal Service Fund and Rural Health Care programs. Discusses the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) special focus on providing healthcare services for veterans in rural and remote locations via telehealth. Offers recommendations for Congress regarding broadband access for low-income and rural veterans.
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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Report on Broadband Deployment in Indian Country, Pursuant to the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services Act of 2018
Provides an overview of fixed and mobile broadband deployment throughout tribal lands. Offers data comparing rural and urban tribal and non-tribal household broadband coverage. Discusses programs and other actions to increase access to broadband on tribal lands, including a focus on the Rural Health Care Program.
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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