Data
The following table shows each broadband and health variable used in the 2017 release of the Mapping Broadband Health in America platform, its definition, and the data source. Proportions for broadband access statistics are calculated using 2014 demographic data from GeoLytics, E. Brunswick, NJ. Additional information about the demographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau is available on its website. Learn more about the methodology.
The mapping platform was built using an Open Integration model that allows users to integrate their own datasets. To view the three-step process, specific code examples, extensibility files and additional instructions, visit GitHub.
View the Open Integration process in GitHub.
Broadband
| Measures | Definition |
|---|---|
| Broadband Access | Percentage of population with fixed access to the Internet at speeds of 25 megabits per second (mbps) download and 3 mbps upload or higher |
| Rural Access | Percentage of rural population in a county with fixed access to the Internet at speeds of 25 megabits per second (mbps) download and 3 mbps upload or higher |
| Internet Adoption | The number of residential fixed connections to the Internet over 200 kilobits per second (kbps) per 1000 households (as a percentage) |
| Download Speed | Most commonly advertised download speed in an area, where “download speed” is the amount of data in megabits that can be downloaded per second (mbps) |
| Upload Speed | Most commonly advertised upload speed in an area, where “upload speed” is the amount of data in megabits that can be uploaded per second (mbps) |
| Internet Providers | The number of entities providing residential Internet service in a geographic area (i.e., nation, state or county) |
Health
| Dimensions | Measures | Definition | Source | National Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Care | Physician Access | Number of primary care physicians per 100,000 people | Area Health Resource File/ American Medical Association | 75 per 100,000 |
| Quality of Care | Preventable Hospitalizations | Number of hospitalizations for ambulatory-care sensitive conditions per 1000 Medicare enrollees | Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care | 50 per 1000 |
| Health Behaviors | ||||
| Sick Days | Average number of physically unhealthy days reported in past 30 days (age-adjusted) | Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System | 3.6 days per month | |
| Obesity | Percentage of adults reporting a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more | CDC Diabetes Interactive Atlas | 27.8% | |
| Diabetes | Percentage of adults reporting a diagnosis of diabetes | CDC Diabetes Interactive Atlas | 9.9% | |
| Poor/Fair Health | Percentage of adults reporting fair or poor health (age-adjusted) | Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System | 15% |