​Heartland Forward has launched a telehealth initiative aimed at expanding healthcare access in rural areas of Arkansas and Oklahoma by educating librarians on preparing residents for telehealth visits.

As part of its broader Connecting the Heartland initiative, which seeks to enhance internet availability, affordability, and adoption, Heartland Forward hosted a training event at the Fayetteville Public Library. This event introduced librarians to the Telehealth DigitalLearn module, a comprehensive online resource available in English and Spanish, which teaches users how to access and navigate telehealth services. The module includes lessons on telehealth basics, patient portals, technical requirements, and appointment preparation.

By empowering librarians to teach telehealth skills, the initiative aims to improve healthcare access in areas where physician shortages are common. Heartland Forward’s broader goal is to connect rural communities to high-speed internet, thus enhancing both healthcare and economic opportunities.

Check out this article at Telecompetitor for more details.

The American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB) has launched a new mentorship program to support communities interested in building their own public broadband networks. The initiative connects cities and towns exploring broadband ownership with those that have successfully implemented public networks. According to AAPB Executive Director Gigi Sohn, the goal is to help communities ensure affordable and accessible broadband by learning from established public network operators.

AAPB invites any city or town to enroll in the program as mentors or mentees without requiring membership. The mentorship program, along with AAPB’s handbook *Own Your Internet: How to Build A Public Broadband Network*, offers practical guidance for communities considering network ownership.

With over 400 public networks serving 700 communities across 33 states, AAPB is committed to promoting public broadband as a solution to the growing need for reliable, affordable internet access. The mentorship program is a key part of AAPB’s strategy to empower local control of broadband infrastructure, supporting America's economic future through high-speed internet for all. Applications for mentors and mentees are available online, and AAPB encourages interested communities to explore the potential of public broadband.

The article "A Better Way to Fund USF" by John Horrigan and Blair Levin, posted on the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society website, discusses the challenges facing the funding of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF), which ensures affordable access to communications services. Currently, USF is funded by telecommunications service providers, but declining revenues have caused the contribution rate to increase, making the system unsustainable. Various alternatives have been proposed, such as using annual appropriations, taxing broadband, or assessing Big Tech, but these have limitations.

The authors suggest an alternative: taxing online gambling. They argue that online sports gambling is a growing problem in the U.S., especially among young men, and is projected to continue rising. By taxing this sector, the government could generate significant revenue without increasing the cost of broadband or complicating tax codes for Big Tech. The authors believe this proposal is politically viable and aligns with existing practices of taxing harmful behaviors like alcohol and cigarettes to fund beneficial programs. They advocate for this solution as a way to sustainably fund the USF while addressing a growing social issue.