Rural Leaders See Their Hospitals Closing Without Robust Broadband

CHICAGO, August 22, 2024 – Rural representatives at the federal level raised concerns regarding the role that inadequate broadband access plays in the closure rate of hospitals across rural America.

Speaking Thursday at a Rural Caucus meeting here at the Democratic National Convention, federal representatives emphasized that the Biden administration’s broadband expansion initiatives were doing more than just connecting people in rural America – they were saving lives, revitalizing local economies, and ensuring the long-term prosperity of these regions.

DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison, a former U.S. senate candidate in South Carolina, shared a poignant account that underscored the critical importance of broadband infrastructure investments in rural healthcare.