Bringing Broadband to Rural America
Broadband access in rural areas is linked to increased job and population growth, higher rates of new business formation and home values, and lower unemployment rates.
The Richmond Fed hosted the virtual Investing in Rural America Conference in October to explore opportunities for innovation in rural parts of the Fifth District.
How did rural and urban counties compare on measures of health outcomes and drivers prior to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Broadband access in rural areas is linked to increased job and population growth, higher rates of new business formation and home values, and lower unemployment rates.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe economic distress in the Fifth District, but the regional housing market has proven remarkably resilient.
Digital connections have become more important in a time of social distancing, but rural broadband access still lags behind cities.
Reston, Va., and Columbia, Md., were founded in the 1960s with similar visions for inclusive, connected communities.
The digital access “homework gap” most severely affects students in poor households and is compounded in rural areas by a lack of broadband internet infrastructure.
Research indicates that one promising strategy for rural development is maintaining and improving the quality of an area's public schools.
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