by Brian Dabson, President and CEO

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) invited comments to inform the development of a National Broadband Plan. On June 8, 2009, the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) was party to two submissions to the FCC. The first was in conjunction with the Benton Foundation, the Center for Rural Strategies, and the Telecommunications and Information Policy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. The second submission was made in conjunction with Appalshop, Access Humboldt, Benton Foundation, California Center for Rural Policy, Center for Rural Strategies, Institute for Self Reliance, Main Street Project, Mountain Area Information Network, and Native Public Media, collectively known as the Rural Internet and Broadband Policy Group.

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2009-06-19 - New Policy Briefs from the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
• Two new policy briefs are available from the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis: A Rural-Urban Comparison of a Building Blocks Approach to Covering the Uninsured and
Impact of the Recession on Rural America: Rising Unemployment Leading to More Uninsured in 2009.

2009-06-15 - New Commentary from the RUPRI Rural Health Panel
• A Rural Perspective/Commentary regarding "Financing Comprehensive Health Care Reform: Proposed Health System Savings and Revenue Options" - description of policy options from the Senate Finance Committee.  Follow these links to access the report: Full Report | Executive Summary | Narrative Table

2009-06-11 - New Brief from the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
• An update of Medicare Advantage enrollment numbers and trends for May is available from the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis.  May 2009: PPOs Driving Growth in Rural Medicare Advantage Enrollment. 

2009-06-10 - New Commentary from the RUPRI Rural Health Panel
• A Rural Perspective/Commentary regarding "Expanding Health Care Coverage: Proposals to Provide Affordable Coverage to All Americans' - Description of policy options from the Senate Finance Committe.  Follow these links to access the report:
Full Report | Executive Summary | Narrative Table

Legislative Update - more updates >>
Health Reform: Moving from Policy Options to Draft Legislation
June 10, 2009, Jocelyn Richgels. The first attempt at reform legislation has made an appearance and there are few major surprises and lots of details to be filled in. Late on Friday, major news organizations obtained a copy of “a draft of a draft” legislation from Senator Edward M. Kennedy and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP), one of the two Senate committees that will be drafting health care reform legislation.
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Rural in the News - more news >>
President Obama Announces Rural Study Tour -
President Obama announced a rural study tour, in which top officials will visit rural areas across the country. 2009-07-01
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Items of Interest - more items >>
Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Rural America
Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the total population in the United States grew to 304,059,724 in 2008 - up 0.9 percent from 2007, and an increase of 8.0 percent from the 2000 Census.
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