Watch: Millions of Americans Live Where Telehealth Is Out of Reach

By Sarah Jane Tribble and Holly K. Hacker and Caresse Jackman, InvestigateTV

August 7, 2025

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<br /> <span class="byline"><br /> By <a href="https://californiahealthline.org/news/author/sarah-jane-tribble/"><strong>Sarah Jane Tribble</strong></a> and <a href="https://californiahealthline.org/news/author/holly-hacker/"><strong>Holly K. Hacker</strong></a> and <a href="https://californiahealthline.org/news/author/caresse-jackman-investigatetv/"><strong>Caresse Jackman, InvestigateTV</strong></a> </span></p> <p>As the federal government reworks rules for a $42 billion broadband expansion program, millions of Americans live in places where there aren’t enough health care providers and internet speeds aren’t good enough for telehealth. A KFF Health News analysis found people in these “dead zones” live sicker and die younger on average than their peers in well-connected regions.</p> <p>KFF Health News has partnered with InvestigateTV to tell the stories of residents whose health care falls into the gap. InvestigateTV’s Caresse Jackman and KFF Health News’ Sarah Jane Tribble take viewers to Alabama, Idaho, and West Virginia to explain why those connectivity gaps persist.</p> <p>Explore the full investigation <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/dead-zone/">here</a>.</p> <p><em>This article was produced by </em><a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/about-us"><em>KFF Health News</em></a><em>, a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at </em><a href="https://www.kff.org/about-us/"><em>KFF</em></a><em> — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.</em> </p> <p><a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/about-us">KFF Health News</a> is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about <a href="https://www.kff.org/about-us/">KFF</a>.</p> <h3>USE OUR CONTENT</h3> <p>This story can be republished for free (<a href="https://californiahealthline.org/news/article/watch-millions-rural-america-telehealth-dead-zones-internet-speeds-broadband/view/republish/">details</a>).</p> <p>
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