C Spire

Telehealth, Precision Ag, and Aging Share a Single Dependency: Reliable Connection

The closest emergency room to parts of Perry County, Kentucky is 55 miles away. Telemedicine fills the gap.

Akul Saxena

May 19, 2026 — 3 min read

Photo of from left: Chris Champion, C Spire; Ramsey Alwin, National Council on Aging; Autumn Lankford Higgins, American Farm Bureau Federation; Aaron Maguregui, Foley and Lardner; Sara Raza, University of Washington School of Law.

ORLANDO, May 19, 2026 — Medicare telehealth flexibilities that enabled rural patients to access specialists remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic remain temporary, and Congress has not acted to make them permanent.

The Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion five-year federal initiative, cannot be used to pay for broadband installation or monthly internet costs at individual homes despite the program's stated goals including improving access to broadband-enabled telehealth.

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C Spire Fiber Connect Policy Summit Telehealth precision agriculture Aging Technology Ramsey Alwin Autumn Lankford Higgins Aaron Maguregui University of Washington Benton Institute for Broadband and Society American Farm Bureau Chris Champion Rural Health Transformation Program Massachusetts General Hospital

GCI Expands 5G to 9 More Southeast Alaska Towns

GCI has expanded 5G service to nine more Southeast Alaska communities, boosting mobile connectivity across the region.

Former FCC Republican Michael O’Rielly Supports Ending E-Rate ‘If Is Is Hurting Students’

“If E-Rate is not delivering, or worse, if it is hurting students, then it should be curtailed or ended,” O’Rielly says, adding the FCC has the legal authority to pursue reforms.

AI and Robotics Drive an IPO Boom in China as Shein Lists in Hong Kong

The trend also reflects a growing tendency for Chinese companies to list shares in Shanghai or Hong Kong rather than New York.

September 15, 2026: Building a Better Connected City

Join SmartWAVE Technologies and Juganu for an engaging conversation about how smart street lighting can become the foundation for a more connected, intelligent, and resilient city.