Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infrastructure
Improving Pedestrian Safety at Night
Provides a synthesis of findings from the "Strategies to Improve Pedestrian Safety at Night" project, including a literature review, practitioner survey, fatality analysis, and feedback from stakeholders researching pedestrian safety. Discusses considerations related to safe infrastructure in rural communities.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Transportation Research Board
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details
Provides a synthesis of findings from the "Strategies to Improve Pedestrian Safety at Night" project, including a literature review, practitioner survey, fatality analysis, and feedback from stakeholders researching pedestrian safety. Discusses considerations related to safe infrastructure in rural communities.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Transportation Research Board
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details
Rooted in Resilience: Investing in Rural Futures: Empowering Rural and Tribal Communities Through Partnership, Advocacy, and Action - RCAP's Fiscal Year 2024 Impact Report
Details the accomplishments of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP) in FY 2024. Highlights RCAP's programs and partnerships supporting infrastructure and community development in rural and tribal areas, including drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste initiatives.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Community Assistance Partnership
view details
Details the accomplishments of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP) in FY 2024. Highlights RCAP's programs and partnerships supporting infrastructure and community development in rural and tribal areas, including drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste initiatives.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Community Assistance Partnership
view details
RCAP Solutions: Supporting the Power and Potential of Communities
Provides an overview of the work of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), which addresses rural waste water, drinking water, emergency response, infrastructure, and community and economic development. Includes interactive sections focused on 2024 accomplishments, RCAP data, project and training maps, case studies and testimonials, assistance provided to communities, and more.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Community Assistance Partnership
view details
Provides an overview of the work of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), which addresses rural waste water, drinking water, emergency response, infrastructure, and community and economic development. Includes interactive sections focused on 2024 accomplishments, RCAP data, project and training maps, case studies and testimonials, assistance provided to communities, and more.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Community Assistance Partnership
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
Water Affordability Needs Assessment: Report to Congress
Reports on access to affordable, safe water across the United States. Discusses challenges faced by community water systems and household-level access challenges, and recommends policies to increase affordable water access. Highlights rural, tribal, and underserved communities throughout, including discussion of funding and program case studies.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
view details
Reports on access to affordable, safe water across the United States. Discusses challenges faced by community water systems and household-level access challenges, and recommends policies to increase affordable water access. Highlights rural, tribal, and underserved communities throughout, including discussion of funding and program case studies.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
view details
The Loss of Rural Vital Places: A Case Study Using the Social Determinants of Health Framework
Interviews 26 residents of a rural Pennsylvania town to explore the impact of the loss of vital places (defined as sources of healthy food, recreational facilities, and social spaces) through a social determinants of health lens. Discusses built environments, economic stability, education, and transportation and their impacts on health and wellbeing.
Author(s): Danielle Rhubart, Jennifer Kowalkowski, Hazel Velasco Palacios, Kristina Brant
Citation: Wellbeing, Space and Society, 7
Date: 12/2024
view details
Interviews 26 residents of a rural Pennsylvania town to explore the impact of the loss of vital places (defined as sources of healthy food, recreational facilities, and social spaces) through a social determinants of health lens. Discusses built environments, economic stability, education, and transportation and their impacts on health and wellbeing.
Author(s): Danielle Rhubart, Jennifer Kowalkowski, Hazel Velasco Palacios, Kristina Brant
Citation: Wellbeing, Space and Society, 7
Date: 12/2024
view details
Water Fluoridation in the U.S.: The Federal Role in Policy and Practice
Examines water fluoridation across the United States, with a focus on policy, best practices, dental health impacts, and state-by-state percentages of people using community water systems (CWS) that receive fluoridated water. Discusses water fluoridation barriers in rural and small communities.
Author(s): Josh Michaud, Jennifer Kates, Nambi Ndugga
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
Examines water fluoridation across the United States, with a focus on policy, best practices, dental health impacts, and state-by-state percentages of people using community water systems (CWS) that receive fluoridated water. Discusses water fluoridation barriers in rural and small communities.
Author(s): Josh Michaud, Jennifer Kates, Nambi Ndugga
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
Staffing Shortages Limited IHS's Capacity To Effectively Administer Much-Needed Sanitation Projects Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Explores Indian Health Service (IHS) efforts to expand staffing and capacity to administer and oversee Sanitation Facilities Construction (SFC) projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in fiscal year 2023. Identifies challenges IHS experienced that threatened its ability to complete projects and meet sanitation needs in a timely manner. Offers recommendations to IHS to related to recruitment, retention, and housing of SFC staff.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Explores Indian Health Service (IHS) efforts to expand staffing and capacity to administer and oversee Sanitation Facilities Construction (SFC) projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in fiscal year 2023. Identifies challenges IHS experienced that threatened its ability to complete projects and meet sanitation needs in a timely manner. Offers recommendations to IHS to related to recruitment, retention, and housing of SFC staff.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details