Posts tagged: rural
Digital Divide Details
Access to the Internet in the USA is unfortunately highly related to class, geography and race. It's time to close the digital divide.
Martha Abraham, Mars Hill NC
Martha Abraham wanted to use the Internet to promote her rural business online. She faces severe limitations because she only has dial up access to the Internet. Martha is unable to use the full potential of the Internet to run an innovative small business.
Brooks Townes, Weaverville NC
Living in the Smoky Mountains outside of Asheville, writer Brooks Townes was forced to give up his freelance career because his dial-up service made him uncompetitive. And bed-and-breakfast owner Martha Abraham fears that her slow and unpredictable satellite connection hurts her small business.
How do we get access when the fiber cable is in the front yard?
It is frustrating to have the fiber-optic cable in your front yard and not be able to get any type of access to broadband. The cable goes to another community but their distribution is not profitable in reaching my address.
The phone line is not good enough to support dsl and the required distance from the telephone (junction-box or etc) is greater than current limits.
Helping the Most Vulnerable
World-class broadband service is not a luxury -- not for doctors and patients who rely on it to send life-altering medical information, not for the disabled who rely on it as a communications lifeline and not for the public safety officials who rely on it to keep our streets safe.
What Lack of Access Means to Our Democracy
We saw in this year's election that the Internet is becoming a fully realized tool for people to participate in their democracy. Political fundraising and organizing went far beyond anyone's expectations.
