Gaps in healthcare often occur through geographic limitations, either by distance to a health facility for in person care, or by lack of access to broadband for virtual care. For those interested in solving the former problem (i.e. distance) with the latter problem (i.e. broadband), funding can be a major setback; not just the funding to extend services, but the funding to get funding…
In order to receive federal grants or apply for loans to extend broadband infrastructure, cities and communities must conduct broadband business studies. This too costs money. And the purpose of these studies? To see if broadband is needed in a geographical area and what it would cost to get it there.
Funded by Arkansas’ Restrictive Reserve Fund and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Rural Broadband I.D. Expenses Trust Fund Grant offers thirty awards of $75,000 each to interested cities and communities.
The program is managed by the Institute for Digital Health & Innovation at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. “As COVID-19 changes the ways in which we work and learn remotely, high-quality data infrastructure is increasingly vital to our economy, access to health care and overall quality of life,” says Dr. Joseph Sanford, Interim Director of the Institute for Digital Health & Innovation.
Grant applications will be available until all funds are exhausted. For more information, grant application, and other resources, visit https://idhi.uams.edu/rural-broadband-grant/
Sources:
https://idhi.uams.edu/rural-broadband-grant/broadband-resources/
