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North Dakota Funding Opportunity for Rural Health Providers: Connecting Tech, Data, and Providers for a Stronger ND

North Dakota Funding Opportunity for Rural Health Providers: Connecting Tech, Data, and Providers for a Stronger ND

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North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a new funding opportunity to help rural health care providers strengthen and modernize electronic medical record systems.

The Electronic Medical Record Enhancement funding opportunity is designed to support enhancements to existing electronic medical record systems that improve service delivery and health outcomes for rural North Dakotans. Examples may include technology enhancements, expanded functionality and artificial intelligence-supported tools that help providers better manage patient care and improve operational efficiency.

The funding opportunity aligns with Initiative 4: Connect Tech, Data, and Providers for a Stronger North Dakota, part of North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). This initiative focuses on modernizing health care delivery, improving access to information, and helping providers leverage technology to better serve their communities. 

Approximately $500,000 per awardee in first-year funding is available, with the possible opportunity to request additional funding. The funding is designed to support practical, locally driven solutions that help rural and tribal communities.

Eligible applicants include:

  • Critical access hospitals
  • Rural hospital systems
  • Rural Federally Qualified Health Centers
  • Non-federally operated Indian Health Service facilities and tribally run 638 health facilities

Applications are due by July 29, 2026, at 5 p.m. CT. A technical assistance call will be held July 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. CT. More information, application materials, and technical assistance resources are available at hhs.nd.gov/rural-health-transformation/funding.

SRT is your locally owned telecommunications cooperative with deep roots in north-central North Dakota. For 75 years, we have worked alongside community-based organizations as an economic catalyst, providing advanced infrastructure to improve opportunity and quality of life. As rural healthcare continues to evolve through telehealth, mobile clinics, remote monitoring, and data-driven care, dependable technology infrastructure will be critical.

We are available to support technology-based projects that align with RHTP funding opportunities, to ensure your rural healthcare organization is technically prepared for what comes next. Thank you for dedication to the health of your communities’ residents.

Choose SRT Fiber Internet this Earth Day

Choose SRT Fiber Internet this Earth Day

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Fiber: The Friendliest Internet for Your Community and Planet

SRT Fiber is the most advanced technology you can choose for your Internet connection, able to handle your online activity like no other technology before. But did you know it’s also the most sustainable choice you can make for your home or business?

True to our 75-year History of Innovation, SRT replaced old copper cable with high-performing fiber optics throughout our service area. More than a service provider, SRT cares about your community. Our fiber internet not only works better than any other option; it’s actually better for your home, your town, and our earth!

Big on Speed, Small on Carbon Footprint

Fiber internet, known for its high speeds and capacity, is also a champion of environmental friendliness. The core of this technology uses light to transmit data, which is more energy-efficient than the electrical data transmission used in traditional copper wires of broadband. This efficiency stems from the reduced energy loss in fiber-optic cables, ensuring that data travels longer distances with minimal degradation.

Less Hungry for Energy

A key factor distinguishing fiber internet in its environmental impact is its significantly lower energy consumption. Studies indicate that fiber-optic networks consume up to 70% less energy than conventional copper networks. This substantial reduction is attributed to the efficiency of data transmission and the minimal heat generation by fiber cables, which in turn lowers the need for cooling systems, a major consumer of energy in data centers and network infrastructures.

Longer Lasting, More Durable

Fiber optic internet uses glass fibers capable of transmitting data at speeds up to roughly two-thirds the speed of light. Unlike traditional copper cables, fiber optics maintain signal strength over long distances, ensuring consistent performance. Fiber’s more durable physical composition means it consumes fewer resources and generates less waste. Fiber is also less susceptible to weather and electromagnetic interference, making it more reliable and less prone to frequent repairs or replacements. Other key features of fiber optic internet include symmetrical download and upload speeds, high bandwidth to meet high demand, and future-proof infrastructure that can take on additional data demands and technological advances.

Key to Smart Rural Communities

As a Smart Rural Community (SRC) provider designated by NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association, SRT delivers cutting-edge, high-speed fiber so our members can live rich lives in their own communities. Our SRT Fiber internet supports smart initiatives that help communities, large and small, leverage technology for efficient use of their local energy and resources. We are committed to promoting innovative economic development and other important services, and fiber is central to that commitment.

SRT Fiber delivers green, smart service that creates a productive and sustainable environment, whether you’re in your living room, office, school, or the great outdoors! Happy Earth Day.