Internet Subscription in Rural Counties Low. In its recent release of American Community Survey (ACS) data, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that “nationally, 78 percent of households subscribe to the internet, but households in both rural and lower-income counties trail the national average by 13 points.” The ACS is a survey of American life, taken every five years to track trends on more than 40 social, economic, housing and demographic topics in every U.S. county. Low internet subscription rates in rural areas hinder adoption of telehealth, which could improve quality of care while reducing cost.
