Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Rural America Gets Wired

US has paid providers $1B to bring broadband to remote areas; progress is uneven

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 19, 2007 7:39 AM CDT

(Newser) – Measured by President Bush's goal—to give every America access to broadband this year—it's not a success. But the effort to wire rural America has made impressive progress, the Economist reports. The US government has given more than $1 billion to internet providers in distant markets in an effort reminiscent of the New Deal's rural electrification project.

In just a few years, one company has turned Kentucky from a state with dismal internet connectivity to one with broadband access available to 98% of residents. But sloppy laws have made gains uneven and slowed success. The definition of “rural area” is so indistinct that one grantee wired a tony Houston suburb with program funds. And in some areas, federal support may be needed for decades.

Ted Farnsworth, founder of 10-month-old farmbid.com, launched his site as an auction for heavy equipment. That didn't work. Farmers wanted to see and touch a machine before plunking down $100,000 or m
Ted Farnsworth, founder of 10-month-old farmbid.com, launched his site as an auction for heavy equipment. That didn't work. Farmers wanted to see and touch a machine before plunking down $100,000 or m   (KRT Photos)
Bill Thiel holds a wireless miniature wireless camera that he uses to monitor appaloosa horses on the rural Ocononowoc, Wisconsin, farm he owns with his wife Susan.
Bill Thiel holds a wireless miniature wireless camera that he uses to monitor appaloosa horses on the rural Ocononowoc, Wisconsin, farm he owns with his wife Susan.   (KRT Photos)
TO GO WITH AFP STORY Lifestyle-Australia-Internet-telecommuting...
TO GO WITH AFP STORY "Lifestyle-Australia-Internet-telecommuting...   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

FCC to Re-Test Wireless Internet Devices

Court Smacks Down FCC in Net Neutrality Case

FCC Eyes Hiking Phone Bills to Expand Internet Access

Google Boss: Chinese Language Will Dominate Web

YouTube Could Take Down Your Internet


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne