Understanding and Improving Rural Broadband
Our approach integrates data and partnerships to enhance rural broadband, empowering communities and advancing digital equity.
A Data-Driven Approach
The Telehealth Broadband Pilot Program, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, provides actionable data on rural broadband access and its impact on healthcare. The project delivers crucial insights into connectivity challenges, informs policy decisions, and evaluates data collection methods to support targeted telehealth and education solutions in underserved areas. This project resulted from a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Federal Communications Commission.
Connecting Communities Across Four States
The program focused on twenty-five counties in four states. Community partners from Alaska, Michigan, Texas and West Virginia engaged local residents and organizations to more fully understand broadband.
Alaska
In partnership with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, the study focused on the Aleutians West Census Area, Bristol Bay Borough, Dillingham Census Area, Nome Census Area, North Slope Borough, and the Northwest Arctic Borough.
Michigan
Partnering with Central Michigan University Rural Health Equity Institute, the study engaged individuals and organizations in Gladwin, Manistee, Missaukee, Montmorency, Osceola, and Oscoda counties.
Texas
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center connected with communities in Crosby, Fischer, Haskell, Jones, Lamb, and Mitchell counties to explore broadband and telehealth needs.
West Virginia
Collaborating with the West Virginia Primary Care Association, the study worked with residents and organizations in Calhoun, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Nicholas, Ritchie, and Roane counties.
Building Relevant Insights
The program implemented a multi-method approach, each contributing valuable insights on broadband accessibility and reliability across rural America. The data collection strategy leveraged a range of community outreach methods and tools.
Broadband Monitoring Pods
Physical devices were installed in homes, health facilities, and other locations to gather real-time data on internet speed, reliability, and bandwidth use.
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Speed Test Widget
Embedded on partner websites, this tool allowed residents to test their internet speeds and contribute data on connectivity across the region.
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Mobile Data Collection
Community Lead Partners gathered cellular network performance data via a mobile app while traveling in rural areas, providing insights into mobile broadband coverage by major providers.
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Existing Public Data
Public data from Measurement Lab and Ookla supplemented the primary data, adding valuable context on broadband availability and quality.
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Measuring Success
The success of the Telehealth Broadband Pilot Program is measured through several core metrics that capture the reach, impact, and depth of broadband data collection.
Insights for Better Decision Making
The program is designed to demonstrate models for studying rural broadband connectivity, offering insights that directly support policymakers and local leaders in advocating for necessary infrastructure improvements.
Optimizing Data Collection
Collecting local internet data to identify challenges and opportunities for enhancing broadband and digital equity in underserved communities.
Understanding Rural Connectivity
Identifying and testing approaches that can reliably assess internet experience, with a focus on replicable strategies for rural connectivity studies.
Informing Policy and Funding
Using analyzed data to guide policies and funding that address broadband inequities and enhance telehealth access, supporting federal, state-level and other decision-makers.
Optimizing Data Collection
Collecting local internet data to identify challenges and opportunities for enhancing broadband and digital equity in underserved communities.
Understanding Rural Connectivity
Identifying and testing approaches that can reliably assess internet experience, with a focus on replicable strategies for rural connectivity studies.
Informing Policy and Funding
Using analyzed data to guide policies and funding that address broadband inequities and enhance telehealth access, supporting federal, state-level and other decision-makers.
Operated under the leadership of two primary institutions
Data Collection
Led by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), leveraging its community connections and outreach strategies to conduct data collection tailored to the needs of rural populations.
Data Analysis
Led by the Rural Telehealth Evaluation Center (RTEC) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, which provides in-depth analysis and publications that transform data into insights for policy and program development.
Partnering with Community Lead Partners
Our program's success relies on the contributions of Community Lead Partners (CLPs) across the targeted states, who apply their local knowledge and networks to engage residents, deploy monitoring devices, and facilitate data collection. These efforts provide localized data essential to both policymakers and local advocates.
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
