The National Governors Association’s https://www.nga.org report (published November 17, 2020) titled Governor Strategies to Expand Affordable Broadband Access, emphasizes how 18.3 million Americans, many in rural areas, still lack access to even basic levels of broadband services and are unable to afford the service available to them.
Americans need access to high quality affordable broadband since there is need for remote work opportunities, remote and improved education, telehealth, but many Americans may not be able to afford the services available to them. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has added more urgency to broadband expansion.
According to the report, several states are actively supporting broadband to help provide telehealth. Vermont has invested $17.5 million in a new COVID-Response Accelerated Broadband Connectivity Program which supplements the lifeline program, telehealth services, remote leaning and/or telework needs with a $2.5 million to separately address telecommunications services, telehealth, and connected Communications Union Districts.
Also, in Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee announced $61 million to be allocated for emergency broadband funds to support telehealth, remote learning, and telework services. The state allocated $60 million of general funds towards broadband to potentially support projects that were previously denied due to lack of program funding.
The report points out the need for partnerships but also mentions other key strategies and best practices needed to expand affordable broadband access particularly in response to the ongoing pandemic. Other strategies needed include:
- Establishing robust, cross-cutting governance structures
- Leveraging anchor institutions to provide rapid community internet service
- Leveraging existing infrastructure projects with dig-once coordination
- Leveraging electric utilities infrastructure and services to deploy broadband networks
- Coordinating and expanding broadband affordability programs
- Improving broadband coverage maps
- Identifying funding and financing sources for broadband deployment
Go to https://nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Broadband_White_Paper_Final.pdf to view the report.
Another report released by NGA published (November30, 2020), titled The Future of State Telehealth Policy, summarizes the major changes that are needed related to licensure policies, coverage of services, pairing/payment policies and incentives, establishing policies to narrow the digital divide, how to best encourage interoperability of the telehealth platform, how to ensure policies that are accountable for appropriate privacy protection, and lastly, how to best engage stakeholders.
Go to https://nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/TheFuture–of-State-Telehealth-Policy.pdf to view the report.