Federal initiative to focus on broadband access for rural cancer patients

The Federal Communications Commission and National Cancer Institute have signed a memorandum of understanding that will focus on how increasing broadband access and adoption can improve the lives of rural cancer patients. As an inaugural project, the agencies have convened a public-private collaboration to help bridge the broadband health connectivity gap in areas of rural Appalachia with higher cancer mortality rates and lower broadband access. The initial geographic focus is planned for rural Kentucky. Current project stakeholders include representatives from the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center; University of California, San Diego Design Lab; and Amgen.