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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Infrastructure

Dec 19, 2024 - Notice from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announcing seven regional meetings for Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG) grantees between February and May 2025. Roundtables will provide technical assistance and oversight and conclude with a regional roundtable that enables the public to engage with grantees, local experts, and other stakeholders working to address digital inequities. Information on how to register will be posted on the BroadbandUSA website.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 16, 2024 - Announces $78.3 million in awarded funding through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program for projects making renewable energy more accessible and affordable to rural residents. Notes the impact of affordable rural energy sources on community institutions such as hospitals.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Dec 13, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the implementation of the 5G Fund for Rural America (5G Fund) to support the build out of advanced, 5G mobile wireless broadband networks for those who live, work, and travel in rural areas. Discusses the identification of areas that will be eligible for 5G Fund support, the 5G Fund budget, the acceptance of bids and identification of winning bids, compliance with 5G Fund public interest obligations and performance requirements, the promotion of digital equity and inclusion, and more. This rule is effective January 13, 2025. The compliance date for §§ 54.322(b), 54.322(g), 54.322(h), 54.322(i), 54.322(j), 54.1014(a), 54.1014(b)(2), 54.1018(a), 54.1018(b), 54.1018(c), 54.1018(d), 54.1019(a)(1), 54.1019(a)(2), 54.1019(a)(3), 54.1019(b), 54.1022(b), and 54.1022(f) will be announced in a future document published in the Federal Register.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 10, 2024 - Discusses the digital divide in Kansas counties due to slow internet connections and access to digital devices. Highlights policy efforts to close the divide and infrastructure challenges found in rural communities.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Dec 10, 2024 - Announces $6.3 billion in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for rural and tribal communities to improve the electric grid, increase safety of drinking water, and create new jobs. Funding is distributed across 44 states for more than 200 projects.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Dec 9, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) making technical and typographical corrections to the September 30, 2024, final rule. This rule is effective December 9, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 4, 2024 - Notice of proposed rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopting a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) that seeks comment on the implementation of the Alaska Connect Fund (ACF) for mobile service from the period January 1, 2030, through December 31, 2034, for areas where more than one mobile provider had been receiving support for overlapping service areas, or duplicate-support areas (ACF Mobile Phase II). Among other things, the FCC seeks comments on the methodology to determine support amounts in duplicate-support areas and the competitive or alternative mechanism to distribute support, how to distribute support in unserved areas, and Tribal consent requirements for the ACF. Comments are due by February 3, 2025, and reply comments are due by March 4, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 2, 2024 - Describes the findings of a 2024 report by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps on health disparities between urban and rural counties. Includes analysis and visualization of data on uneven health outcomes and regional disparities. Highlights the correlation between poor health outcomes in rural counties and lack of access to civic infrastructure, including libraries, high speed internet, and local news.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Nov 26, 2024 - Highlights 2 rural Colorado communities among the first to receive federal funds to build infrastructure for high-speed internet access. Notes statewide goals for increasing access to broadband and projected impacts on rural communities.
Source: Government Technology
Nov 25, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announcing the approval of an information collection related to the April 10, 2024, final rule that adopted a Report and Order amending existing rules and requirements governing the management and administration of the Universal Service Fund (USF) high-cost program. Amendments to sections 36.4 (amendatory instruction 2), 54.314 (amendatory instruction 11), and the removal and reservation of 54.1306 (amendatory instruction 22) are effective November 25, 2024.
Source: Federal Register