This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Broadband

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: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
Aging Our Way, PA: A Plan for Lifelong Independence
Draft of a master plan for aging (MPA) for Pennsylvania. Highlights 5 priorities areas and their associated strategies and tactics related to access to services, aging in place, independence, caregiving, and awareness building. Includes rural throughout.
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Department of Aging
view details
ACP Consumer Survey
Survey of 5,317 Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) households to measure the impact of ACP participation on internet access and affordability. Includes rural breakdown of data and access to healthcare data.
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
view details
Snapshot of Rural Health in Colorado, 2024
Provides an overview of rural health in Colorado. Includes data and statistics on a variety of indicators, such as education, poverty, rural economy, healthcare coverage and access, rural health information technology, mental health, oral health, emergency medical services (EMS) and workforce shortages. Includes five regional snapshots from around the state.
Additional links: Eastern Plains Regional Snapshot, Mountain West Regional Snapshot, Northwest Regional Snapshot, San Luis Valley Regional Snapshot, Southwest Regional Snapshot
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Rural Health Center
view details
Telehealth Expansion, Internet Speed, and Primary Care Access Before and During COVID-19
Analyzes changes in primary care telehealth access among 172,387 Wisconsin Medicaid beneficiaries before and during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Covers the period June 2019 to December 2021, with data on telehealth visit count, telehealth share of visits, and PHE-induced decline in visits offset by telehealth. Assesses change in access over time by demographic characteristics, rural-urban dwelling, access to high speed internet, and health status.
Author(s): Alyssa Shell Tilhou, Arjun Jain, Thomas DeLeire
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(1), e2347686
Date: 01/2024
view details
Safety Leadership Training Effectiveness Evaluation on Behavior Change Among Large-Herd U.S. Dairy Farm Supervisors
Evaluates the effectiveness of a 12-module asynchronous safety leadership training program for dairy farm supervisors focusing on health and safety on the farm, communication, workplace conflict, and more. Discusses use of the Kirkpatrick Model of Training Effectiveness, the limitation of broadband access on study results, and implications for occupational health practice.
Author(s): David I. Douphrate, Anabel Rodriguez, Amir Hossein Javid, Pete Kines
Citation: Workplace Health & Safety, 2024
Date: 2024
view details
USDA FY 2025 Annual Performance Plan/FY 2023 Annual Performance Report
Reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) performance for fiscal year (FY) 2023, and presents a performance plan for FY 2025. Discusses USDA programs and funding for rural and tribal community development, infrastructure, housing, broadband, nutrition, and more.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
view details
Bridging a Care Gap: Policy Opportunities for Improving Access to Home-Based Primary Care
Recording of a panel discussion on home-based primary care for rural older adults and policies that could address challenges with offering and accessing home-based primary care. Discusses telehealth, broadband, community infrastructure, service models, community health workers, and more. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: Duke Margolis Institute for Health Policy
view details
What's in it for Rural? Analyzing the Opportunities for Rural America in IIJA, CHIPS, and IRA
Evaluates the significance to rural areas of appropriations and authorizations approved by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS), and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Identifies rural-significant funding by agency and sector, and discusses economic and financial aspects of allocations and funding structure. Summarizes major appropriations in infrastructure, energy, climate resilience, broadband, environment, and more. Provides recommendations for use and reporting of funds by officials, agencies, and policymakers.
Author(s): Anthony F. Pipa, Elise Pietro
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: The Brookings Institution
view details
Federal Funding for Broadband Deployment: Agencies and Considerations for Congress
Provides an overview of federal agencies that fund broadband deployment and describes each agency's key broadband programs. Discusses policy issues and considerations for Congress related to federal broadband deployment funding at these agencies, including creating a coordinated national broadband strategy, expanding oversight, and shifting to funding sustainability.
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details