Rural communities lag behind their metropolitan counterparts in terms of access to services and information. Greater investments in telecommunications technology and infrastructure can help bridge these gaps.
"Rural communities across America continue to lag behind urban and suburban American areas in accessibility to quality education, health care, and communications technology. And ...these disparities are even greater when compared to countries such as Canada, Europe, and the industrial nations of Asia.
Without access to modern communications technology, rural communities are restricted from actively participating in the global economy, thereby limiting the quantity and quality of available services and restricting their ability to get their voices heard.
[A]s rural America lags further behind the rest of the country in access to modern communication, local newspapers and radio stations are being rapidly replaced by the community coffee shop as many rural citizens' primary news source. This sometimes leaves rural citizens without accurate information and breaks down opportunities for two-way dialogue between rural and urban communities.
Investment in planning and communication must be made if rural communities are to survive and prosper...Maintaining and building on services, connectivity, and technology is clearly central to a thriving economy and integral to the survival of our rural communities."
FULL STORY: Reconnecting Rural America

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
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Has President Trump Met His Match?
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Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.

The Unseen Aftermath: Wildfires’ Lasting Health and Emotional Burden
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Public Parks as Climate Resilience Tools
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What the Proposed Federal Budget Means for Transit, Rail
The proposed FY 2025 budget keeps spending for public transit and passenger rail essentially the same as in 2024.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research