Digital Age Is Slow to Arrive in Rural America

[alp227]

Source: The New York Times

COFFEEVILLE, Ala. — After a couple of days in this part of rural Alabama, it is hard to complain about a dropped iPhone call or a Cee Lo video that takes a few seconds too long to load.

The county administrator cannot get broadband at her house. Neither can the sportswriter at The Thomasville Times.

(snip)

As the world embraces its digital age — two billion people now use the Internet regularly — the line delineating two Americas has become more broadly drawn. There are those who have reliable, fast access to the Internet, and those, like about half of the 27,867 people here in Clarke County, who do not.

In rural America, only 60 percent of households use broadband Internet service, according to a report released Thursday by the Department of Commerce. That is 10 percent less than urban households.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/18/us/18broadband.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

[Newest Reality]

1. We were already ripped-off on broadband

back in the '90s:

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2007/pulpit_20070810_002683.html

[Kurmudgeon]

2. We only got off dialup here early last year in this part of central WV.

[customerserviceguy]

3. It may not be accidental

Once the folks out in the country can get broadband, it changes everything. Movies that couldn't be rented out at the corner mini-market become more readily available, and local sales tax revenues may plunge, as rural buyers turn to the Internet to buy the things that they're now a captive audience for.

It would not be surprising to me that local businesspeople and backwoods fundies are telling county officials to go slow on permits for broadband infrastructure.

[UpInArms]

4. it really doesn't work that way -

It would not be surprising to me that local businesspeople and backwoods fundies are telling county officials to go slow on permits for broadband infrastructure.

because there are fewer households to serve and the median income is usually lower, rural areas do not attract businesses that need to build up a lot of infrastructure.

Grants sometimes fill a void, but that money is in short supply and large demand.

[sofa king]

5. There is still such a thing as the Rural Utilities Service, too.

Which used to be the Rural Electrification Administration. It has been chronically underfunded since its inception in 1935. Part of the USDA, which must have made sense at some point. (Edit: Wait a minute, what did I just say?)

Any time you want to see a flyover state Republican turn whiter than usual, just suggest de-funding the RUS.

In fact, maybe suggesting that is a good idea, seeing as it's time to tighten the belt so the rich people can avoid becoming second homeless.