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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Broadband

Tribal Internet Access: Increased Federal Coordination and Performance Measurement Needed
Interviews officials from 21 tribal communities and 6 service providers to understand perspectives on high-speed internet access and barriers within remote tribal communities. Highlights the importance of high-speed internet for rural health care facilities to support telemedicine.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 04/2016
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Independence, Technology, and Connection in Older Age
Explores a wide range of technologies that promote continued independence and productivity for older Americans, including telehealth services for people in rural and underserved areas. Addresses lack of access to broadband or Internet connection in many rural areas.
Date: 03/2016
Sponsoring organization: President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
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U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service Broadband Initiatives Program Final Report
Summary of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as it pertains to broadband services in rural America. Funded projects were completed by September 2015. Includes data and statistics about miles of fiber deployed, affected locations, and active projects.
Date: 2016
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Utilities Service
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Beyond Rural Walls: Identifying Impacts and Interdependencies Among Rural and Urban Spaces - A Survey of Literature
Discusses the economic benefits of broadband distribution and usage in business, education, healthcare, and public safety in rural and urban areas. Describes the interdependencies between rural and urban broadband, and the impact of rural broadband utilization on urban areas.
Author(s): Joshua Seidemann
Date: 10/2015
Sponsoring organization: NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association
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Creating Opportunity and Prosperity Through Strengthening Rural-Urban Connections
Highlights examples in which regional development organizations can benefit from linking rural regions with urban centers. Includes information on broadband development and its implication for improving access to healthcare services.
Author(s): Brian Dabson, Erin Meyers
Date: 05/2015
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Development Organizations
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Telecommunications: Projects and Policies Related to Deploying Broadband in Unserved and Underserved Areas
Shares options for broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas. Identifies alternative approaches to expanding rural broadband and factors to consider when planning a broadband project. Identifies economic, legal, and policy issues. Describes FCC efforts to foster broadband deployment in unserved areas. Appendix includes brief case studies.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 04/2014
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Wireline Competition Bureau Evaluation of Rural Health Care Pilot Program: Staff Report
Discusses the Rural Health Care Pilot Program which has helped healthcare providers obtain broadband capability to implement telemedicine and telehealth applications.
Date: 08/2012
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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Bringing Broadband to Rural America: Update to Report on a Rural Broadband Strategy
Update to the 2009 Rural Broadband Report describing broadband deployment and adoption in rural areas. Discusses telecommunications needs of rural healthcare providers.
Date: 06/2011
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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Telecommunications: FCC's Performance Management Weaknesses Could Jeopardize Proposed Reforms of the Rural Health Care Program
Evaluates the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) management of the Rural Health Care Program. Focuses on how well the program is addressing the needs of rural healthcare providers, the impact of the FCC's pilot program design and implementation, and the FCC's performance goals and measures.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2010
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan
Includes the executive summary and full text of the National Broadband Plan, which began taking form in April 2009 and was finalized in March 2010. The plan makes recommendations to the FCC, the Executive Branch, Congress and state and local governments. Chapter 10 focuses on healthcare, and includes some information specific to rural health care facilities.
Date: 03/2010
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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