Maximizing Rural Connectivity Through Practical Solutions
The Telehealth Broadband Pilot Program identified actionable opportunities to enhance internet experiences in rural communities, focusing on the full journey of accessing and using online services that can support connecting to telehealth.
Explore the Opportunities
From hardware upgrades to community education, these strategies empower individuals and businesses to maximize connectivity, improving quality and accessibility in rural areas
Optimize Existing Resources
Focus on improving internet quality with existing infrastructure and tools in rural communities.
Empower Communities
Raise awareness of internet options and educate residents on how to use and advocate for better services.
Data-driven Collaboration
Strengthen collaboration between businesses, IT teams, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and community leaders to address connectivity challenges and support data-driven advocacy.
Simple Fixes Create Big Changes
During the project, we discovered many individuals had basic, easily fixable internet issues. However, a lack of local expertise led them to assume poor internet performance was unavoidable.
Replace Outdated Hardware
Upgrading older modems, routers, and other network equipment can significantly improve speed and reliability, even without major infrastructure changes.
Optimize Internet Setup
Simple adjustments like relocating a router for better signal distribution can reduce dead zones and improve overall connectivity in homes and businesses.
Empowering Through Knowledge
A common barrier in rural areas is a lack of awareness about internet offerings and reasonable speeds or reliability. Community-wide education can reduce frustration and help residents advocate for better services when current options fall short.
Informing Residents About Internet Options
Clear information on ISPs, speeds, performance, and costs helps residents make informed choices. Existing resources often seem biased or insufficient.
Setting Higher Expectations
Educating users on what their internet can support, such as streaming, telehealth, or remote work, empowers them to maximize their experience. Many didn't realize what they were missing with their current connection.
Bridging the Gap Between Businesses and ISPs
Clear communication with IT teams and ISPs is key for rural businesses to resolve connectivity issues. Education programs can teach employees how to provide actionable data to IT groups and ISPs can help resolve issues faster.
Document and Report Issues Clearly
Business owners and community members can log issues with details like time, symptoms, and steps. Clear documentation improves chances of timely responses from ISPs and IT teams.
Provide Actionable Data for ISPs
Understanding the data ISPs need, such as speed tests, error messages, and operational impact, helps businesses report issues more effectively, leading to quicker, targeted solutions.
Providing Communities with Data to Improve Connectivity
A program providing broadband data tools to rural communities helps local and State governments improve connectivity. These tools help leaders identify issues, make recommendations, and engage ISPs and policymakers to secure investments for better healthcare, safety, and quality of life.
Guiding ISP Investments
Community-sourced data from pods, speed tests, and coverage maps gives ISPs concrete information on underserved areas, helping prioritize upgrades and new infrastructure like mobile towers.
Identifying Mobile Coverage Gaps for Public Safety
Mobile data collection reveals signal gaps on critical emergency routes, supporting advocacy for better coverage where reliable connectivity is vital for EMS and public safety.
Supporting Telehealth and Hospital-at-Home Initiatives
Broadband data from homes reveals gaps in telehealth connectivity, helping leaders prioritize infrastructure improvements and ensure remote access to essential healthcare.
Support for Community Members
Data collected by local governments can help them recommend which ISPs are best suited to serve their residents, based on each ISP’s constraints.
