For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Withers, 703-351-2087
Spencer, Tenn. (October 1, 2020)—The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) today announced the opening of its latest “Virtual Living Room®,” a space where veterans can use the robust broadband connections provided by local telecommunications providers to access VA telehealth services. CoBank, one of the largest private providers of credit to the U.S. rural economy, is the grant program’s exclusive sponsor.
Thanks to an innovative partnership between FRS, CoBank, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, American Legion Post 207, and Ben Lomand Connect (McMinnville, Tenn.), veterans will be able to use the Virtual Living Room®, a comfortable, private space housed within the American Legion facility in Spencer, Tenn., to participate in telehealth appointments with their VA healthcare provider. Ben Lomand Connect provided the Virtual Living Room® with fiber Internet connectivity allowing veterans the ability to conduct virtual healthcare and therapy sessions. Ben Lomand is a member of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, the premier association representing nearly 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America.
Virtual Living Rooms® can be installed at local libraries, churches, community centers or other locations unique to each rural area. Communities that are located more than an hour away from a VA clinic or hospital, and within the service territory of an NTCA member, are encouraged to apply for these $5,000 grants to support the creation of a Virtual Living Room®.
“Almost a quarter of all U.S. veterans live in rural communities, where distance from VA hospitals and other socioeconomic factors can make access to adequate health care difficult,” said FRS Executive Director Pam Becker. “Broadband, however, can help shatter these barriers and result in improved health outcomes. The Foundation for Rural Service is so pleased to be able to offer veterans in Tennessee another option when it comes to their health care, and The Virtual Living Room® makes telehealth care available in a comfortable, private setting for free. We could not be more thrilled to bring this opportunity to veterans in and around Spencer.”
According to Ben Lomand Connect Board President Gerald Sitz, “We are very proud to be working with our community partners to support our local veterans in Tennessee. As students of history, our board and employees understand the great debt owed our service men and women. This is one way we can support our veterans and give back to the communities we serve. Ben Lomand Connect is proud to provide our fiber network to access the VA’s ever-expanding telehealth initiatives.”
“CoBank is extremely proud to be part of this innovative effort to improve healthcare access for rural veterans,” said Thomas Halverson, CoBank’s chief executive officer. “Telemedicine programs have shown true potential to improve health outcomes for rural residents, and we applaud the commitment of the Foundation for Rural Service, the VA, and NTCA to put this technology to work for the benefit of our nation’s veterans.”
“I am pleased to see Ben Lomand’s interest and investment in telehealth,” said Dr. Scott DesJarlais, U.S. representative for Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District. “Telemedicine was an important development for our rural citizens prior to the COVID pandemic and is even more important now. This technology and capability will give access to folks who would otherwise have to drive great distances just to speak with a licensed health professional. Of course, nothing will replace in person visits for critical and emergent needs, but telemedicine is a great tool for both patients and doctors to have initial conversations and evaluations to determine the appropriate next step for their healthcare needs. I hope to see this expanded to every corner of our state.”
For more information about the FRS Virtual Living Room® Grant Program, or for guidance on how to apply, visit www.FRS.org or contact [email protected].
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About the Foundation for Rural Service
The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), the philanthropic arm of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association and its members, seeks to sustain and enhance the quality of life in America by advancing an understanding of rural issues. Through scholarships, grants, and a variety of educational programs, FRS focuses on educating rural youth, encouraging community development and introducing policymakers to challenges unique to rural communities. Visit us at www.frs.org.
About Ben Lomand Connect
Ben Lomand Connect was incorporated on October 2, 1952, to provide local telephone service to rural middle Tennessee. Ben Lomand began its diversification in 1993 by forming BLC, a wholly-owned long-distance subsidiary, and it was the first competitive local exchange carrier in the state of Tennessee. Combined, the two have over 27,000 access lines covering 3,200 square miles of territory. Ben Lomand Connect also offers many other services, including video, security, hosted IP solutions, and managed IT services.
About CoBank
CoBank is a $152 billion cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 70,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.
CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.