Data

The data in the Mapping Broadband Health in America 2024 platform is extracted from leading data sources for broadband, chronic disease, opioids, and maternal health measures as well as demographic metrics. The five data tables below briefly identify each of the measures (as denominated in the platform), its definition, the primary data source, and the data year. Hyperlinks in the tables direct users to the primary data sources.

For broadband, we focus on two key dimensions – broadband connectivity – in addition to critical sub-measures on rurality and speed. Increasingly, adoption and speed are critical to understanding the full picture of broadband connectivity in a community.

Broadband Connectivity
Dimensions Measures Primary Data (Data Year) Description
Adoption Broadband Adoption 2024 Section 706 Report, Appendix B-7. Original data sources: FCC BDC data Staff Block Estimates. (opens new window) The number of fixed terrestrial connections at 100/20 Mbps or higher divided by the number of households in which fixed terrestrial services are available at 100/20 Mbps or higher advertised speeds. Data for this variable is currently only available at the state level.
Internet Adoption - Any Speed Internet Access Services Report. Form 477 County-Level Connection Data, Form 477 County-Level Tier Data (opens new window) The number of residential (consumer) connections over 200 Kbps per 100 households.
Internet Adoption - High Speed (Self-Report) Social Determinants of Health Database. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. (opens new window) Self-reported percentage of households with a high-speed Internet connection through subscription including cable, DSL, fiber-optic.
Broadband Access Fixed Broadband Access 2024 Section 706 Report, Appendix B-12. Original data sources: FCC BDC data, Staff Block Estimates, 2020 Census ACS Five-Year Estimates for 2018-2022. (opens new window) Percentage of population with access to fixed terrestrial broadband service at 100/20 Mbps or higher advertised speeds.
Fixed Broadband and Mobile Access Percentage of population with access to both fixed terrestrial broadband service at 100/20 Mbps or higher advertised speeds and outdoor stationary mobile 5G-NR service at 35/3 Mbps or higher advertised speeds.
Mobile Access Percentage of population with access to outdoor stationary mobile 5G-NR service at 35/3 Mbps or higher advertised speeds.
Device Ownership Households - Desktop or Laptop Only Social Determinants of Health Database. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. (opens new window) Percentage of households with a desktop or laptop only. These households do not have any other type of computing device, such as a smartphone, tablet or other portable wireless computer, or other type of computer, 2016-2020.
Households - No Device Percentage of households without a computing device (e.g., smartphone, desktop or laptop, tablet or other portable wireless computer, or other type of computer).
Households - Smartphone Only Percentage of households with a smartphone only. These households do not have any other type of computing device, such as a desktop or laptop, tablet or other portable wireless computer, or other type of computer.
Funding Community Health Centers Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Rural Health Care Commitments and Disbursements (FCC Form 462/466/466A) (opens new window) The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating community health centers providing health care to migrants (2018-2023). Data Source: Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Rural Health Care Commitments and Disbursements (FCC Form 462/466/466A)
Community Mental Health Centers The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating community mental health centers (2018-2023). Data Source: Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Rural Health Care Commitments and Disbursements (FCC Form 462/466/466A)
Consortia The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating consortia of not-for-profit hospitals and rural health clinics (2018-2023).
Dedicated Emergency Rooms The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating dedicated emergency rooms of rural for-profit hospitals. (2018-2023).
Educational Institutions The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating post-secondary educational institutions offering healthcare instruction (2018-2023). Data Source: Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Rural Health Care Commitments and Disbursements (FCC Form 462/466/466A)
Local Health Departments The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating local health departments (2018-2023). Data Source: Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Rural Health Care Commitments and Disbursements (FCC Form 462/466/466A)
Not-For-Profit Hospitals The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating not-for-profit hospitals (2018-2023). Data Source: Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Rural Health Care Commitments and Disbursements (FCC Form 462/466/466A)
Other Entities The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating to off-site data centers and off-site administrative offices that help eligible Health Care Providers to function. (2018-2023).
Rural Health Clinics The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating rural health clinics (2018-2023). Data Source: Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Rural Health Care Commitments and Disbursements (FCC Form 462/466/466A)
Skilled Nursing Facilities The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating skilled nursing facilities (2018-2023).
Total RHC Funds Committed The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable represents the total committed funds provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating entities to provide telecommunications and broadband services necessary to provide healthcare (2018-2023). Data Source: Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Rural Health Care Commitments and Disbursements (FCC Form 462/466/466A)
Rural Access Rural Fixed Broadband Access 2024 Section 706 Report, Appendix B-13. Original data sources: FCC BDC data Staff Block Estimates, 2020 Census Urban Areas. (opens new window) Percentage of population living in rural census blocks with access to fixed terrestrial broadband service at 100/20 Mbps or higher advertised speeds.
Rural Fixed Broadband and Mobile Access Percentage of population living in rural census blocks with access to both fixed terrestrial broadband service at 100/20 Mbps or higher advertised speeds and outdoor stationary mobile 5G-NR service at 35/3 Mbps or higher advertised speeds.
Rural Mobile Access Percentage of population living in rural census blocks with access to outdoor stationary mobile 5G-NR service at 35/3 Mbps or higher advertised speeds.

For health, and as a part of the 2024 update, the platform now includes recent chronic disease data as well as data on opioids and maternal health. For chronic disease, we focus on four critical dimensions – health outcomes, access to care, quality of care, and health behaviors – where broadband has been shown to enable effective and cost-saving interventions.

Chronic Disease and Health Behaviors
Dimensions Measures Primary Data (Data Year) Description
Access to Care Dental Providers Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & University of Wisconsin Population Health Initiative County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (opens new window) Number of dentists.
Number of Hospitals with Mammography Services Health Resources & Services Administration, Area Health Resource File (opens new window) Number of hospitals with breast cancer screening/mammography.
Physician Access Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & University of Wisconsin Population Health Initiative County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (opens new window) Ratio of population to primary care physicians.
Health Outcomes Breast Cancer Incidence U.S. Cancer Statistics Data (opens new window) Age-adjusted incidence rate of the total number of new breast cancer cases diagnosed in 2017-2021 for all ages, all races and ethnicities, in females, divided by the at-risk population for that category and multiplied by 100,000.
Breast Cancer Mortality Age-adjusted death rate of the total number of breast cancer deaths during 2018-2022 for all ages, all races and ethnicities, and all male and female, divided by the at-risk population for that category and multiplied by 100,000.
Diabetes Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & University of Wisconsin Population Health Initiative County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (opens new window) Percentage of adults (aged 20 and older) with diagnosed diabetes (age-adjusted).
Obesity Percentage of adults (aged 18 and older) that report a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted).
Poor/Fair Health Percentage of adults who consider themselves to be in poor or fair health (age-adjusted).
Premature Death Years of potential life lost before age 75 per 100,000 persons (age-adjusted).
Sick Days Average number of physically unhealthy days reported in the past 30 days (age-adjusted).
Quality of Care Preventable Hospitalization Rate of hospital stays for ambulatory-care sensitive conditions per 100,000 Medicare enrollees (age-adjusted).
Risk Factors Excessive Drinking Percentage of adults reporting binge or heavy drinking during the last 30 days.
Mammography Screening Prevalence CDC PLACES (opens new window) Model-based estimate for crude prevalence of mammography use in the previous two years among women aged 50–74 years.
Physical Inactivity Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & University of Wisconsin Population Health Initiative County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (opens new window) Percentage of adults (aged 20 and over) reporting no leisure-time physical activity.
Smoking Percentage of adults who are current smokers.

For opioids, this initial phase of the effort to intersect drug abuse data with broadband focuses on two dimensions of the ongoing crisis – outcomes (mortality rates) and risk factors for overdose (prescription rates); we anticipate that the second phase will include other risk factors and intermediate variables established in the research literature as precursors and drivers of opioid abuse and overdose, as described in the Broadband and Opioids Conceptual Model.

Opioid Mortality and Prescription Rates
Dimensions Measures Primary Data (Data Year) Description
Health Outcomes All Drugs - Death Rate CDC WONDER Online Database (opens new window) Mortality rate for all drug-related overdose, represented as deaths per 100,000 persons.
All Drugs - Death Rate Trends Percent change in mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 persons) for all drug-related overdose.
All Opioids - Death Rate Mortality rate for all opioid-related overdose, represented as deaths per 100,000 persons.
All Opioids - Death Rate Trends Percent change in mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 persons) for all opioid-related overdose.
Heroin - Death Rate Mortality rate for all heroin overdose, represented as deaths per 100,000 persons.
Heroin - Death Rate Trends Percent change in mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 persons) for all heroin overdose.
Opioid Use Disorder Social Determinants of Health Database. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. (opens new window) Prevalence of overarching Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) among Medicare (dual and non-dual) beneficiaries.
Prescription Opioids - Death Rate CDC WONDER Online Database (opens new window) Mortality rate for all prescription opioid overdose, represented as deaths per 100,000 persons.
Prescription Opioids - Death Rate Trends Percent change in mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 persons) for all prescription opioid overdose.
Synthetic Opioids - Death Rate Mortality rate for all synthetic opioid overdose, represented as deaths per 100,000 persons.
Synthetic Opioids - Death Rate Trends Percent change in mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 persons) for all synthetic opioid overdose.
Risk Factors HIV Prevalence Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & University of Wisconsin Population Health Initiative County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (opens new window) Number of people aged 13 years and older living with a diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection per 100,000 persons.
Opioids Prescription Rate U.S. Opioid Dispensing Rate Maps, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (opens new window) Rate of retail opioid prescriptions dispensed per 100 persons.
Opioids Prescription Trends Percent change in opioid prescription rate (retail opioid prescriptions dispensed per 100 persons).

For maternal health, we incorporate data on maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, including up to one year postpartum, as specified in the Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act, Public Law No. 117-247 (eff. Dec. 20, 2022). We also include select measures related to risk factors for poor maternal health outcomes and access to maternal health care. Given the multifaceted and complex nature of the maternal health crisis, this additional information can help shed light on the drivers or causes of poor maternal health outcomes and provide greater insight for action, including areas where telehealth and other broadband-enabled solutions can be leveraged to improve maternal health.

Maternal Health
Dimensions Measures Primary Data (Data Year) Description
Access to Care Maternity Care Deserts March of Dimes 2022 Maternity Care Desert Report (opens new window) Access to obstetric care in a given county from none (desert) to full. Maternity care deserts are counties without a hospital, birth center, or provider offering obstetric care.
Mental Health Provider Shortage Health Resources & Services Administration, Area Health Resource File Find Tool (opens new window) Population-weighted average score of Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas in a county. Higher scores indicate greater need or shortage.
Prenatal Care (First Trimester) Maternal and Infant Health Mapping Tool (opens new window) Estimated percentage of live births to women who received first trimester prenatal care.
Demographics Maternal Age Natality on CDC WONDER Online Database - United States Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Vital Statistics System. (opens new window) Majority of live births to mothers of a specific age group.
Race/Ethnicity (Maternal Health) CDC WONDER (opens new window) Number of women of maternal age (15-44 years) by race or ethnicity.
Health Outcomes Infant Mortality Rate Maternal and Infant Health Mapping Tool (opens new window) Estimated infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births.
Late Maternal Death Rate CDC WONDER Online Database (opens new window) Number of maternal deaths (up to 1 year postpartum) per 100,000 live births.
Maternal Deaths Counties reporting maternal deaths (up to 42 days postpartum) or no maternal deaths.
Maternal Mortality Rate Number of maternal deaths (up to 42 days postpartum) per 100,000 live births.
Severe Maternal Morbidity Rate Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Fast Stats (2019) (opens new window) Number of women experiencing unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery (20 indicators) per 10,000 in-hospital deliveries. Blood transfusion codes are not included.
Risk Factors Breastfeeding Initiation Maternal and Infant Health Mapping Tool (opens new window) Estimated percentage of breastfeeding initiation among live births who were not transferred to another facility within 24 hours of delivery and were alive at the time of birth certificate completion. Breastfeeding initiation is defined as the infant receiving any breast milk or colostrum during the period between delivery and discharge from the birth facility (or completion of the birth certificate for home births). Data for California and Michigan are not available due to non-standard items used to collect this information
Low Birth Weight Estimated percentage of live births that are low birth weight (less than 2,500 grams).
Maternal Diabetes Estimated percentage of live births to women with any diabetes diagnosis (pre-pregnancy or gestational).
Maternal Hypertension Estimated percentage of live births to women with any hypertension diagnosis (pre-pregnancy or gestational).
Pre-pregnancy Obesity Estimated percentage of live births to women with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m².
Preterm Births Estimated percentage of live births that are preterm (before 37 weeks).
Smoking During Pregnancy Estimated percentage of live births where cigarette smoking was reported during any trimester of pregnancy.

For demographics, we rely on several sources including the U.S. Census Bureau data for population metrics and selected social and economic factors, as detailed below.

Demographics, Socioeconomic, and Community Health Factors
Dimensions Measures Primary Data (Data Year) Description
Community Factors Distance to ER Social Determinants of Health Database. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. (opens new window) Median distance in miles to the nearest emergency department, calculated using population weighted tract centroids in the county.
Households - No Vehicle Percentage of housing units with no vehicle available.
Injury Deaths Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & University of Wisconsin Population Health Initiative County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (opens new window) Number of deaths due to injury per 100,000 persons.
Poor Mental Health Days Average number of mentally unhealthy days reported in the past 30 days (age-adjusted).
Severe Housing Percentage of households with at least one of four housing problems: overcrowding, high housing costs, lack of kitchen facilities, or lack of plumbing facilities.
Insurance Health Insurance U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE) (opens new window) Percentage of persons under 65 with any medical insurance.
Medicaid Social Determinants of Health Database. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. (opens new window) Percentage of population with any Medicaid/means-tested public health insurance coverage.
Medicare Percentage of the population with Medicare health insurance coverage only.
Private Insurance Social Determinants of Health Database. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. (opens new window) Percentage of the population with private health insurance coverage.
Population Age (Over 65 Years) Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & University of Wisconsin Population Health Initiative County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (opens new window) Percentage of the population aged 65 and older.
Density FCC 2021 Broadband Deployment Report (opens new window) Population per square mile.
Female Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & University of Wisconsin Population Health Initiative County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (opens new window) Percentage of the population that identifies as female.
Population U.S. Census Bureau County Population Totals; 2010-2019; FCC Staff Block Estimates (2019) (opens new window) Estimate of the resident population including all people currently residing in the United States.
Race/Ethnicity (All) Social Determinants of Health Database. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. (opens new window) Percentage of population by race or ethnicity.
Rural U.S. Census Bureau County Population Totals: 2010-2019; FCC Staff Block Estimates (2019) (opens new window) Population residing in a rural area (as designated by the U.S. Census Bureau).
Urban Population residing in an urban area (as designated by the U.S. Census Bureau).
Veteran Status Social Determinants of Health Database. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. (opens new window) Percentage of civilian population consisting of Veterans (ages 18 and over).
Social and Economic Factors Education Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & University of Wisconsin Population Health Initiative County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (opens new window) Percentage of adults (aged 25-44) with some post-secondary education (i.e., some college).
Food Insecurity Estimated percentage of population who lack adequate access to food.
Median Household Income Median household income is the income level at which half of households earn more, and half of households earn less.
Poverty U. S. Census Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (opens new window) Estimated percentage of families or individuals whose total income is below the corresponding official poverty threshold.
Social Vulnerability Index Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry/ Geospatial Research, Analysis, and Services Program. CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022 Database U.S. Accessed on June 2024. (opens new window) A composite measure of social vulnerability based on 16 demographic factors collected in the American Community Survey, including poverty, unemployment, housing cost burden, education, health insurance, age, disability status, single-parent households, English language proficiency, racial and ethnic minority status, housing type and transportation.
Unemployment Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & University of Wisconsin Population Health Initiative County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (opens new window) Percentage of the civilian labor force (aged 16 and older) who are unemployed but seeking work.