Bridging the Broadband Health Gap

Funding for federal programs supporting broadband infrastructure and digital inclusion has tightened over the last year. With the Affordable Connectivity Program winding down in April 2024, the termination of Digital Equity Act grants in May 2025, and changes to the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, the digital divide could widen, leaving millions disconnected from essential services that rely on internet access, including healthcare. This issue brief is the second in a series that explores opportunities to bridge the broadband health gap through stakeholder partnerships and collaborations, creative funding opportunities, and policy advocacy. Here, we focus specifically on exploring funding streams that health sector stakeholders can leverage to strengthen access to broadband and innovative technologies to improve access to care. These funding streams can provide new pathways to strengthen and expand broadband infrastructure and technology adoption.