ABSTRACT
A long-standing gap in broadband service reach and quality exists between metropolitan and rural areas. The national Federal Communications Commission standard for what constitutes broadband service as of 2020 is 25 Mbps download and three Mbps upload speed, and approximately 93.5% of Americans have access to fixed broadband at those speeds. Census statistics confirm that individuals 65 and older use broadband services less frequently: 63.1% of that group used the internet at any location in 2018 compared to a national average of 77.7%. Mobile technology use such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets grew generally in the 2010-2020 decade among all age groups, and by 2017 more households had mobile data plans than had wired broadband services. Broadband services can be effective not only in improving doctor-patient care but also in launching campaigns and programs to improve health or disseminate health information.
