Solution to Rural Internet Connections

Not even fifteen years ago, logging onto and surfing the Internet had nothing to do with speed, just being able to view information on such a large scale was amazing enough. Now, anything under high-speed cable connections are old technology and therefore; obsolete. Unfortunately high-speed isn't accessible everywhere; rural areas in the United States are living in the Dinosaur Age of Internet Connection, with speeds like 56.6k, 28.8k, and 14.4k.

Anyone looking for a solution to this rural dilemma has found that help is hard to come by. The message boards act as if there is no such thing as "low-speed" connections; making comments like "well just get DSL." Of course its not always that easy. High-speed Internet isn't available in most rural areas and the options are slim. Satellite companies cant prove to be expensive and disappointing both in the long and the short run.

An easy, inexpensive solution is something most people already have: a cell phone. Major cell phone companies offer their own versions of high-speed solutions for their customers. AT&T, for example, has a wireless broadband connection with unlimited data transfer amounts priced at about $60 a month with a one time equipment cost of around $120.

AT&T's 3G network is available in most major cities and is rapidly expanding. But if a major city isn't nearby, what could a person do? Simple, AT&T's wireless solution will work anywhere a cell phone would get service, just at a slower speed. A standard, non-3G connection still will have data streaming at nearly ten times the speed of a rural dial-up connection.

While some would question whether or not $60 a month for a connection only ten times the speed of dial-up is a wise move, the answer is again a simple one; yes it is wise.

In a land where YouTube, pod casts, and Myspace rule supreme, the difference between six minutes and an hour seems more like a lifetime. Imagine being able to go to YouTube to watch the latest video blog, or going to your friend's Myspace to hear their new profile song. To most, that probably sounds like nothing new or spectacular, but to those living in rural areas, it is an unknown corridor in the ever expanding World Wide Web.

With several drawbacks, such as Vista compatibility, service locations, and lag time, wireless broadband isn't a perfect system, but it is a cheap and easy solution to a difficult-to-answer problem. All it takes is a phone call or visit to a cell phone service provider and the high-speed life is within reach.