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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Broadband

Broadband/Internet Availability Survey Report
Presents findings of a survey capturing rural broadband and internet availability data as reported by 233 internet companies in NTCA's email database. Breaks down availability by internet speed, network platforms, broadband adoption, and costs to increase customers' speeds, among other data points.
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association
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America's Health Rankings Annual Report 2022
Provides a national and state-by-state overview of population health by analyzing 51 measures to describe health outcomes in the U.S. and 32 additional measures used to track current and emerging health issues at state and national levels. Examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Presents findings from the October 2022 COVID-Era Disparities Survey. Explores racial and ethnic disparities throughout, including data on American Indian/Alaska Native populations.
Additional links: Executive Brief
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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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
Type: Document
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
Type: Document
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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
Type: Document
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
Type: Document
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Education Statistics
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The State of the Rural Economy in Indiana
Provides an overview of the rural economy in Indiana and includes data on issues such as population, employment and income, education, housing, agriculture, transportation, broadband, immigration, quality of life, and more. Provides county-level economic and demographic data as well as rural versus urban comparisons. Features information on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): Srikant Devaraj, Dagney Faulk, Michael Hicks, et al.
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Ball State University, Center for Business and Economic Research
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Review of Rural U.S. Economic and Health Care Trends
Reviews recent literature and publicly available data to explore important issues at the nexus of healthcare and local economic vibrancy, and explores the economic implications associated with COVID-19. Includes sections on rural hospitals, the rural healthcare workforce, emergency medical services, insurance, and telehealth. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and county-level maps showing Health Professional Shortage Areas and rural counties without obstetrical services.
Author(s): Alison Davis
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Economic Analysis of Rural Health
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