High-Speed Internet Options for Rural Areas

If you live in a rural or harder-to-reach area (think farms, mountains, plains, RVing or even outside the suburbs), you know how difficult it can be to get reliable internet. But we know that internet access is an integral part of our everyday lives, from working remotely to completing class assignments to staying in touch with loved ones.

Rural Internet: Necessities and Challenges

With the rapid popularization of remote work, telehealth, and online school, internet is no longer a want — it’s a real need. But living outside a city center shouldn’t mean you don’t have good options.

But why can it be difficult to get reliable rural internet? Like Mark Zuckerberg says: It’s complicated.

Wired internet relies on buried cables. Lots of them. DSL uses a phone line, cable internet uses copper wires, and fiber internet uses glass strands. All of these require an infrastructure investment, and that can take time. That’s part of why DSL is so common in more rural areas – phone lines are typically still readily available, even if they’re not actively being used for phone service.

Wireless home internet uses cell towers (which are also widely available in many rural areas) to create a signal for your home internet network, all without requiring construction. That’s easy.

Another popular option has been satellite internet. It requires a satellite dish to work, and that gets installed on or near the home. The equipment can be costly, and it’s typically the responsibility of the internet user to cover the expense.

How to Get Rural Internet

We make it easy to get broadband internet for rural areas. We offer several Wireless Internet options depending on if you own a wireless router or not.  Or you can call our Internet Experts at (540) 517-6700, M-F 9am-5pm and they’ll help you find the right solution based on where you live and what your internet needs are.

No matter what, we’re working hard to keep everyone connected to what matters.