8. Lack of Infrastructure
In many Appalachian communities, basic infrastructure is inadequate or entirely missing. Poor roads, scarce public transportation, and limited broadband internet make it difficult to access schools, jobs, healthcare, and even emergency services. This digital and physical isolation deepens economic hardship and stifles opportunity. For example, many Appalachian counties still lack high-speed internet, further widening the gap between rural and urban America. Read the FCC’s broadband deployment report.
