Community Anchor Institutions

Rural Americans encounter substantial healthcare disparities when compared to urban counterparts, including provider shortages, less access to specialists, and higher mortality risks from various chronic and acute conditions. While 13.8% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, rural regions comprise two-thirds of healthcare provider shortage areas. Accordingly, broadband-enabled telehealth that mitigates barriers to healthcare access can be a transformative solution for patients and physicians in rural areas.

John Windhausen recently announced his decision to step down as Executive Director of the SHLB Coalition, explaining that at 66 years old, it is the right time for him to begin winding down professionally. In his statement, Windhausen noted, “Our advocacy is entering a phase where it will need to ramp up significantly, particularly with changes in the presidential administration.

White House National Cyber Director Harry Coker, Jr.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced, in late October 2024, that Indiana would receive over $15 million through the Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program created by Congress through the Digital Equity Act.

The fate of the $8 billion Universal Service Fund (USF) now lies in the hands of the Supreme Court, which has the power to determine whether the subsidy program is unconstitutional. The legality issue concerns the Federal Communications Commission’s choice to delegate the administration of USF programs (Connect America Fund, Lifeline, E-Rate and Rural Health Care) to a private third party—the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). The Sixth and Eleventh Circuits have already ruled to uphold the constitutionality of the USF’s current funding mechanism.

Former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said Congress should fund the $8.1 billion Universal Service Fund through annual appropriations. “I do think that the time has come for Congress to shift this to a general appropriation,” said Pai, FCC chairman from 2017 to 2021. “[If USF were funded by appropriation] we wouldn’t have this situation now where we’re essentially getting more and more money from a declining base of contributors.”

A new two-year, $2.5 million project funded by the N.C.

In October and November, the SHLB Coalition received seven outstanding nominations for our annual board election. Midway through the election season, one of our current board members unexpectedly stepped down due to personal health reasons, increasing our open seats from two to three. One of these seats is always designated for a staff member at an Anchor Institution. Voting ran through November 5.

Chris Mitchell speaks with Andy Schwartzman, Senior Counselor at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, about pressing legal issues affecting telecommunications policy in the U.S.

With artificial intelligence (AI) technologies becoming increasingly prevalent in educational settings and beyond, it is crucial to examine how paid AI services will increase disparities in digital access and literacy. GenAI resources can be valuable educational tools, but their cost may exacerbate the digital divide between wealthy and low-income students. By offering free access to the paid version of their products to financially struggling students, AI companies can help level the playing field.