Benton Institute for Broadband & Society - Health and Media

Coronavirus and Connectivity

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Benton Foundation

Supporting the Increasingly Important Missions of Community Anchor Institutions

benton — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 12:46:02 +0000

Community anchor institutions should be at the center of any comprehensive national strategy to promote the availability and use of High-Performance Broadband. Community anchor institutions use broadband to provide essential services to their community, such as education, information access, and telehealth services. But in the 21st century, community anchors’ missions are moving beyond their walls. Libraries no longer deliver knowledge that is housed only within their buildings or the covers of hardbound books. Public education today cannot exist separate from the ability of students and teachers to use broadband connections—both in school and out. And health-care facilities see and monitor patients both in hospitals and in their homes. More broadband connections are needed in order to reach more community anchor institutions. A 2018 Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition report authored by CTC Technology & Energy found that 60 percent or more of community anchor institutions in the United States lacked robust and scalable connections that fiber networks would provide. For example, in low-density metro areas (with between 363 and 1,669 residents per square mile), the connection rate was only 50 percent. CTC estimates that all unconnected community anchor institutions in the continental United States and Hawaii (outside of Alaska) could obtain fiber connections for between $13 billion and $19 billion and that major savings could be obtained through the implementation of best practices that include competitive bidding processes and aggregated purchasing.

[Jonathan Sallet is a Benton Senior Fellow]

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

https://www.benton.org/blog/supporting-increasingly-important-missions-community…

Teaser:

Community anchor institutions should be at the center of any comprehensive national strategy to promote the availability and use of High-Performance Broadband.

Source:

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Author:

Jonathan Sallet

Send date:

Mon, 03/02/2020

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 2/28/2020

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Mon, 03/02/2020

Coverage Type:

Analysis

Community Anchor Institutions

Healthcare Facilities

Universal Service Fund

E-rate/Schools and Libraries Program

Rural Health Care

Engagement on Equity: Connectivity and the Future of Healthcare

benton — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 16:25:41 +0000

Bridging the digital divide can help address our nation’s persistent health disparities. Rural Americans not only face limited access to health-care facilities, but “suffer from higher rates of obesity, mental health issues, diabetes, cancer, and opioid addiction.” But the tie that also binds is the lack of high-speed broadband connectivity in low-income communities, too. Rural America, as you know, is facing a physician shortage and low-income and rural populations are less likely to have choice when it comes to broadband providers. Allow me to be more direct: in those places where there is a wealth and/or population gap, there is a health care and broadband availability gap. While the challenge is clear, the cure is even clearer. With broadband connectivity, patients with virtually any condition can be seen remotely by a specialist without having to drive anywhere at all. So should come as no surprise that 52 percent of hospitals now use at least some form of telehealth, another 10 percent are just ramping up and we expect more to come on board. What does this make clear? That a healthy America is a connected America. Conversely, if we fail to fully address America’s broadband connectivity gap – when it comes, to health and wellness in rural America -- none of us, will be completely well. Real, High-Performance Broadband can help solve some of health care’s most enduring problems and intractable challenges... and it can do so by delivering massive cost-saving opportunities. It can slow runaway health-care cost growth, enable patients to harness a new generation of connected-care devices that help them live longer and more productive lives and extend connected care everywhere while closing the rural health-care gap.

[Mignon Clyburn served as a Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission from 2009 to 2018, including a term as Acting Chairwoman in 2013. She currently serves on the Benton Board of Directors]

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

https://www.benton.org/blog/engagement-equity-connectivity-and-future-healthcare

Teaser:

Bridging the digital divide can help address our nation’s persistent health disparities

Source:

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Author:

Mignon Clyburn

Send date:

Thu, 10/17/2019

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 10/16/2019

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Wed, 10/16/2019

Coverage Type:

Speech

Digital Divide

https://www.benton.org/blog/preview-fccs-july-open-meeting-taking-e-out-ebs-and-…

Telehealth

Internet/Broadband

Universal Broadband

A Preview of the FCC's July Open Meeting: Taking the "E" Out of EBS and TV

benton — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 17:44:25 +0000

Perhaps the biggest news of the week was the agenda for the Federal Communications Commission's July 10 Open Meeting, which FCC Chairman Ajit Pai laid out in a blog post on June 18, 2019. I'm traveling to New York this week; below is a shorter-than-usual weekly that takes a look at how Chairman Pai plans to take education out of the Educational Broadband Service -- and broadcast television.

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

Teaser:

Federal Communications Commission's July 10 Open Meeting

Source:

Benton Foundation

Author:

Robbie McBeath

Send date:

Fri, 06/21/2019

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 6/20/2019

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

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Publish Date:

Thu, 06/20/2019

Coverage Type:

Wireless Telecommunications

Telehealth

Internet/Broadband

Competition/Antitrust

Universal Broadband

Spectrum

Auctions

Why is the FCC Talking about a USF Cap?

benton — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 22:11:47 +0000

The Benton Foundation unequivocally opposes any proposals from the Federal Communications Commission that would allow the FCC to shirk its responsibilities to meet its Congressionally-mandated mission. The FCC is supposed to ensure:

Quality services are available at just, reasonable, and affordable rates.
Access to advanced telecommunications and information services are provided in all regions of the Nation.
Consumers in all regions of the Nation, including low-income consumers and those in rural, insular, and high cost areas, have access to telecommunications and information services, including interexchange services and advanced telecommunications and information services, that are reasonably comparable to those services provided in urban areas and that are available at rates that are reasonably comparable to rates charged for similar services in urban areas.
There are specific, predictable, and sufficient Federal and State mechanisms to preserve and advance universal service.
Elementary and secondary schools and classrooms, health care providers, and libraries should have access to advanced telecommunications services.

USF budget reductions or caps could stall and stifle America’s internet opportunity. They would undercut critical efforts to close the digital divide, efforts meant to ensure that every American can take advantage of the transformative opportunities that broadband can deliver. Capping internet opportunity is not the right answer. Rather, the FCC should spend its time working to eliminate the bureaucratic barriers that are preventing these programs from getting the most bang for the buck and achieving their maximum potential.

We can’t extend broadband’s reach throughout rural America with a USF cap. We can’t solve the homework gap with a USF cap. We can’t ensure that everyone can afford essential voice and broadband service with a USF cap. We can’t bring world-class medical care to rural areas with a USF cap. So why is the FCC talking about a USF cap?

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

https://www.benton.org/content/why-fcc-talking-about-usf-cap

Teaser:

Source:

Benton Foundation

Author:

Kevin Taglang

Send date:

Thu, 03/28/2019

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 3/27/2019

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Wed, 03/27/2019

Coverage Type:

Press Release

Agenda

Upcoming policy issue

Digital Divide

E-rate/Schools and Libraries Program

Universal Service Fund

Lifeline/Low-Income Consumers

Wireless Telecommunications

Wireless Internet

The Impact Of Telemedicine On Medicare Utilization, Spending, And Quality, 2019–22

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 20:56:29 +0000

Telemedicine use remains substantially higher than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, although it has fallen from pandemic highs. To inform the ongoing debate about whether to continue payment for telemedicine visits, this report estimated the association of greater telemedicine use across health systems with utilization, spending, and quality. In 2020, Medicare patients receiving care at health systems in the highest quartile of telemedicine use had 2.5 telemedicine visits per person, compared with 0.7 telemedicine visits per person in the lowest quartile of telemedicine use. In 2021–22, relative to those in the lowest quartile, Medicare patients of health systems in the highest quartile had an increase of 0.21 total outpatient visits (telemedicine and in-person) per patient per year, a decrease of 14.4 annual non-COVID-19 emergency department visits per 1,000 patients per year, a $248 increase in per patient per year spending, and increased adherence for metformin and statins. There were no clear differential changes in hospitalizations or receipt of preventive care.

Benton Content:

https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.01142

Teaser:

This report estimates the association of greater telemedicine use across health systems with utilization, spending, and quality.

Source:

Author:

Send date:

Fri, 04/26/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 4/25/2024

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Thu, 04/25/2024

Coverage Type:

https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-proposes-improvements-wireless-call-routing-988…

FCC Proposes Improvements for Wireless Call Routing to 988 Lifeline

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 16:57:20 +0000

The Federal Communications Commission proposed improvements for wireless call routing to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline that would connect callers in crisis to behavioral health resources in their state or county while protecting their privacy. Calls to 988, the three-digit number designated in 2020 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, are currently routed based on the caller’s area code and exchange, which presents some obstacles to callers whose area code does not correspond to their location. Reliable, timely access to the 988 Lifeline is crucial to linking people experiencing a suicidal or mental health crisis with immediate support. This proposal would require a georouting solution to be implemented for all wireless calls to the 988 Lifeline. In July 2023, the FCC adopted rules that require providers to report outages that may potentially impact 988 service similar to the existing requirement for 911. This requirement affects all providers with a role in delivering the calls, including cable, satellite, wireless, wireline, interconnected VoIP providers. The Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking reflects coordinated efforts by the FCC and the US Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to make it easier for those in crisis to get help.

Benton Content:

Teaser:

Proposal aims to implement georouting requirement to connect callers in crisis to local resources

Source:

Federal Communications Commission

Send date:

Fri, 04/26/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 4/25/2024

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

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Publish Date:

Thu, 04/25/2024

Coverage Type:

Press Release

Emergency Communications

Federal Agency

Federal Communications Commission

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0313/2473/files/Brochure_Senior_living_connect…

Level of Government

Federal

Connectivity Trends for Senior Living in the United States

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:41:05 +0000

The US population continues to age rapidly, and this aging boom has a multifold impact on the senior housing industry. Contrary to popular belief, seniors have become increasingly technology-savvy and are enthusiastic internet users. While senior residents continue to consume mainly linear/cable television, online streaming is on the rise. Seniors also increasingly use mobile applications for banking, video chatting, gaming and engaging with their local community. As active seniors move around their apartments and common areas, Wi-Fi roaming becomes important to maintain connectivity throughout the property, whether it be independent or assisted living. In short, senior residents’ expectations are rapidly changing. The senior living industry has its share of challenges. It is marked by staff shortages, increased medical costs and low digitalization. Senior housing leaders are continuously asked to do more with less. This state of affairs represents an opportunity for technology and connectivity to play a vital role in improving operational efficiency through automation and better integration of legacy systems and facility IoT. For caregivers and administrative staff, managed Wi-Fi is the foundational layer that enables them to serve the residents and better accomplish their duties. Wi-Fi makes it possible to reduce residents' isolation while facilitating the staff’s work in senior living. Video calls, telemedicine, home automation systems—the list of innovations that improve the well-being of senior residents while optimizing the working conditions of care staff is growing

Benton Content:

Teaser:

Contrary to popular belief, seniors have become increasingly technology-savvy and are enthusiastic internet users

Source:

Maravedis

Send date:

Fri, 04/19/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 4/18/2024

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

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Publish Date:

Thu, 04/18/2024

Coverage Type:

Seniors/Aging Individuals

Telehealth

Internet/Broadband

Marginalized Populations

https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/findings-and-insights/2024-national-finding…

2024 National Findings Report: Creating Thriving Communities Through Civic Participation

Grace Tepper — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:44:57 +0000

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps' (CHR&R) 2024 National Findings Report highlights the importance of civic infrastructure and spaces to connect and be informed, with a focus on access to local news, broadband internet and public libraries. CHR&R calls attention to structural barriers like policies, laws and practices that can create obstacles to forms of participation such as voting and worker unionizing. Key findings include:

The healthiest counties, where people live long and well, have well-resourced civic infrastructure, including a more accessible information environment (local news outlets, broadband access and public libraries), compared to counties among the least healthy. Counties with well-resourced civic infrastructure and accessible information environments also offer more social and economic opportunities for good health.
Civic infrastructure, including accessibility of the information environment, is under-resourced among counties along the U.S.-Mexico Border, within the Black Belt Region and Appalachia and surrounding American Indian/Alaska Native tribal areas.
Regions of our country that erect or reinforce structural barriers to civic health — or discriminatory policies and practices, such as laws that create obstacles to voting — limit participation in civic life. These structural barriers are more common in regions with specific histories of structural racism and disinvestment.

Benton Content:

Teaser:

The 2024 National Findings Report highlights the importance of civic infrastructure and spaces to connect and be informed, with a focus on access to local news, broadband internet and public libraries

Source:

University of Wisconsin

Author:

Send date:

Thu, 04/18/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 4/17/2024

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

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Publish Date:

Wed, 04/17/2024

Coverage Type: