Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infrastructure
The Future of the Universal Service Fund and Related Broadband Programs
Provides an overview of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) and its four programs: the High Cost Program, Lifeline Program, Rural Health Care Program, and Schools and Libraries Program. Describes legislation introduced in the 118th Congress that would impact the USF programs. Outlines considerations for Congress and five areas for possible reform.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) and its four programs: the High Cost Program, Lifeline Program, Rural Health Care Program, and Schools and Libraries Program. Describes legislation introduced in the 118th Congress that would impact the USF programs. Outlines considerations for Congress and five areas for possible reform.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Indian Health Service's Controls Over Sanitation Facilities Construction Program Projects Funded Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Could Be Improved
Explores Indian Health Service (IHS) internal controls regarding identifying, recording, and tracking projects in the Sanitation Deficiency System (SDS) and ensuring that Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds are limited to eligible project costs. Offers recommendations to IHS to improve controls for identifying and recording SFC Program projects funded under IIJA and for ensuring IIJA funds are used only for eligible project costs.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Explores Indian Health Service (IHS) internal controls regarding identifying, recording, and tracking projects in the Sanitation Deficiency System (SDS) and ensuring that Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds are limited to eligible project costs. Offers recommendations to IHS to improve controls for identifying and recording SFC Program projects funded under IIJA and for ensuring IIJA funds are used only for eligible project costs.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Farm Bill Primer: Rural Development Title
Provides an overview of the rural development provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill, including provisions related to rural broadband, water and waste disposal, and business creation and economic development. Offers considerations Congress may consider in the 2025 reauthorization of the Farm Bill related to the ReConnect Program and rural health challenges.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the rural development provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill, including provisions related to rural broadband, water and waste disposal, and business creation and economic development. Offers considerations Congress may consider in the 2025 reauthorization of the Farm Bill related to the ReConnect Program and rural health challenges.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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USDA Rural Development: Together, America Prospers
Provides an overview of USDA Rural Development's mission and investments, highlighting programs and initiatives related to rural economic development, housing, and infrastructure. Discusses quality of life and healthcare needs in rural communities.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Provides an overview of USDA Rural Development's mission and investments, highlighting programs and initiatives related to rural economic development, housing, and infrastructure. Discusses quality of life and healthcare needs in rural communities.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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An Examination of the Implementation and Effectiveness of the Telehealth Broadband Pilot Program in the United States
Provides a brief overview of the Telehealth Broadband Pilot (TBP) Program, which aimed to address gaps in broadband service that limited access to telehealth services in rural and underserved communities in Alaska, Michigan, Texas, and West Virginia. Describes the development and implementation of pods that measured broadband data in the communities over time. Summarizes discussions with TBP Program staff regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the program. Includes factors for consideration in the development of future programs to measure broadband in rural communities.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Rural Telehealth Evaluation Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Regional Campuses
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Provides a brief overview of the Telehealth Broadband Pilot (TBP) Program, which aimed to address gaps in broadband service that limited access to telehealth services in rural and underserved communities in Alaska, Michigan, Texas, and West Virginia. Describes the development and implementation of pods that measured broadband data in the communities over time. Summarizes discussions with TBP Program staff regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the program. Includes factors for consideration in the development of future programs to measure broadband in rural communities.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Rural Telehealth Evaluation Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Regional Campuses
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USDA Rural Development 2024 Accomplishments in Virginia
Describes U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development projects in Virginia in 2024. Includes information about support for rural healthcare facilities, education, and workforce.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Describes U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development projects in Virginia in 2024. Includes information about support for rural healthcare facilities, education, and workforce.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Epidemiological Model Can Forecast COVID-19 Outbreaks from Wastewater-Based Surveillance in Rural Communities
Examines the ability of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to identify potential outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 in rural communities. Analyzes wastewater in 6 communities and observes WBE's predictive accuracy to forecast SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks.
Author(s): Tyler Meadows, Erik R. Coats, Solana Narum, et al.
Citation: Water Research, 268
Date: 01/2025
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Examines the ability of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to identify potential outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 in rural communities. Analyzes wastewater in 6 communities and observes WBE's predictive accuracy to forecast SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks.
Author(s): Tyler Meadows, Erik R. Coats, Solana Narum, et al.
Citation: Water Research, 268
Date: 01/2025
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An Evaluation of the Telehealth Broadband Pilot Program (2021–2024)
Provides an overview of the Telehealth Broadband Pilot (TBP) Program, which aimed to address gaps in broadband service that limited access to telehealth services in rural and underserved communities in Alaska, Michigan, Texas, and West Virginia. Details the development and implementation of devices that measured broadband data in the communities over time and the results of those devices. Summarizes discussions with TBP Program staff regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the program, as well as interviews with healthcare stakeholders, consumers, and technical assistance providers in TBP Program communities. Offers factors for consideration in the development of future programs to measure broadband implementation in rural communities and improve user experience. Includes summary reports by state.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Rural Telehealth Evaluation Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Regional Campuses
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Provides an overview of the Telehealth Broadband Pilot (TBP) Program, which aimed to address gaps in broadband service that limited access to telehealth services in rural and underserved communities in Alaska, Michigan, Texas, and West Virginia. Details the development and implementation of devices that measured broadband data in the communities over time and the results of those devices. Summarizes discussions with TBP Program staff regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the program, as well as interviews with healthcare stakeholders, consumers, and technical assistance providers in TBP Program communities. Offers factors for consideration in the development of future programs to measure broadband implementation in rural communities and improve user experience. Includes summary reports by state.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Rural Telehealth Evaluation Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Regional Campuses
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2024 Communications Marketplace Report
Examines the state of competition across the broader communications marketplace, as well as laws, regulations, regulatory practices, or marketplace practices that pose a barrier to competitive entry and expansion of the marketplace. Includes data on tribal and rural areas throughout, including trends in broadband adoption and the percentage of households with multiple provider options between 2020-2023.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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Examines the state of competition across the broader communications marketplace, as well as laws, regulations, regulatory practices, or marketplace practices that pose a barrier to competitive entry and expansion of the marketplace. Includes data on tribal and rural areas throughout, including trends in broadband adoption and the percentage of households with multiple provider options between 2020-2023.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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2024 Broadband/Internet Availability Survey Report
Presents findings of a survey capturing rural broadband and internet availability data as reported by 228 internet companies that responded to NTCA's survey. Describes technologies used to provide broadband services, broadband availability and subscription rates, anchor institutions, network deployment progress, supply chain challenges, barriers to widespread fiber deployment, and more.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association
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Presents findings of a survey capturing rural broadband and internet availability data as reported by 228 internet companies that responded to NTCA's survey. Describes technologies used to provide broadband services, broadband availability and subscription rates, anchor institutions, network deployment progress, supply chain challenges, barriers to widespread fiber deployment, and more.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association
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