As I sit here to put this blog together I contemplate what life would be like without access to the internet. Obviously, everyone on the #hive blockchain is in the same boat as me, we have access.
Now, try to remember the last time you tried to log on, and for some unknown reason, the connection failed. I don't know about you, but having this occur is maddening.
Now, try to imagine never having access to the World Wide Web.
In 1995, only 0.04 percent of the world's population was able to log onto the internet, with 50% of those people living in the United States, and it all started with dial-up.
Most rural areas don't even have access to the internet and therefore are behind the eightball right from the get-go.
Think of everything that we do that requires us to log on. I'm not sure how those without the capability to access the internet can keep pace with this ever-changing world.
Living in a rural area has its advantages and I would not change that for anything, but there are limitations to technology that comes along with living in the middle of nowhere.
We have no cellphone service and have to travel 15 miles before we can connect to the nearest cellphone tower.
Our internet service is provided by our phone company. Between our landline, which we must have, and the internet service they provide, our monthly bill is $167 per month. Not only are these services very expensive, but they are also totally unreliable.
That is all about to change. 😁
The next few pictures were taken this past December. Originally the company installing the lines for the new internet provider was doing so by using the existing polls that carry the electric lines.
With the new internet cable strung just 12 feet in the air as it crossed our driveway, I knew this was not going to work. After several phone calls to the outfit doing the installation, they sent out an engineer to access the situation, and he agreed that the low-hanging internet cable would not fly.
Several days later, it took five guys to take the thing down.
Fast forward to April 6th, 2021 and the solution was coming up the road in the way of this remarkable piece of heavy equipment.
Not too long from now the people in this rural town will have another option, one that promises to be half of the cost that our present provider charges rapes us for, and a lot more reliable.
The crew working for the company laying the groundwork for a new internet cable were very friendly.
The worker in this picture trotted over to say hello and ensured us that right behind them were some other machine operators. They would dress up the dirt road that they had pierced with the ripper on the back of the dozer. He informed me that the housing for the new cable was being buried at a depth of 4 feet.
Within 20 minutes, the guys operating a dozer and roller were repairing the road.
When they were finished, the orange tubing used to house the cable was protruding from the ground throughout our town. Later that day I took a ride around the block which is a distance of 5 miles.
I counted the houses on our block and in total there were only seven houses on the block.
Despite the small number of homes, a cheaper more reliable internet service would soon be available to all of us.
There were two guys in this pickup truck. It seemed to me that their only job was to follow the lead dozer that was burying the orange tubing. Now, that's the kind of job I would like!
After completing one leg of our block, I could hear the dozer making its way back down our country road. As I expected, the ripper was no longer digging a trench and I was able to snap a photo of the immense ripper making light work of burying the orange tubing.
For those who couldn't afford the internet before, this may now be possible.
Internet for all should be a priority. Those without internet service are at such a disadvantage, and this could be a game-changer, at least in this sleepy town I call home.
Digital equity that is affordable and reliable will provide educational opportunities as people acquire digital skills proficiency.
Digital equity will improve quality of life.
Digital equity will help to support economic prosperity. How would it be possible to get involved with all that goes on in the crypto world, without internet service, it wouldn't.
Digital equity will empower those doing without it for so long and enable them to participate in democracy.
I dare anyone who now uses broadband to shut it down for a week or so and see if they feel as though they are living in the stone age!