Rural High Speed Internet
High-Speed Internet Service in Rural Locations
Expanding high-speed Internet service in rural areas has become a national mandate. But while our country works on getting rural areas more connected, what high-speed internet services are available to the people who currently live in those areas? A number of Internet services can bring coveted high-speed broadband connections to the furthest rural outposts.
The Cheapest Way to Get High-Speed Internet in Rural Communities
While high-speed Internet service has already become the norm in metropolitan markets, many residents of rural communities remain frustrated at their inability to move past dial-up connections. As technologies advance, and more providers expand their reach, high-speed Internet is gradually reaching these under-served communities -- but sometimes with a hefty price tag.
High-Speed Internet for Rural Alabama
Residents of cities such as Birmingham and Montgomery take high-speed Internet access for granted, but rural residents in Alabama have fewer choices for broadband. ConnectingALABAMA, a project launched in 2008, is working to improve access for the rural areas of the state. As of the time of publication, however, options for high-speed Internet remain limited in much of rural Alabama.
High-Speed Internet for Rural Locations
While high-speed Internet is easily accessible through cable or DSL providers in America's urban centers, it is harder to come by in the rural parts of the country. The Center for Rural Affairs notes that just 38 percent of all Americans living in rural areas have access to high-speed Internet. The most practical option for high-speed Internet in rural areas is satellite service.
More Rural High Speed Internet Picks
High-Speed Internet for Rural Parts of Tennessee
The U.S. continues its transition from slower, dial-up Internet service to high-speed service, called "broadband" Internet. Obtaining broadband Internet service has, however, been something of a challenge for many residents of the rural U.S. Tennessee is no different: rural areas of the state are among the last to receive broadband service.
High Speed Internet in Rural Beaver Dam, Kentucky
Despite their rural location, the residents of Beaver Dam, Kentucky, have many options for connecting their homes to the World Wide Web. In the past, high-speed Internet was a luxury unavailable to those living off the beaten path. Today, the people of Beaver Dam can select from cable, digital subscriber line (DSL) or satellite Internet providers, bringing the whole world to their doorsteps.
The Best Options for Rural High-Speed Internet
The "digital divide" in the United States represents the Internet-availability gap between population-rich urban areas that provide access to high-speed Internet, and the rural areas that don't. While there are high-speed Internet options for some in rural communities, those in other communities may have to accept one of two less desirable options: be satisfied with dial-up, or wait until something better comes along.
