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story category Farm Census Data Gives Insight Into Rural Broadband
33% of Farms Have Broadband Connections
(old news - 06:47PM Wednesday Feb 11 2009)
tags: coverage · stats
Our friends at GigaOM direct our attention to an interesting read over at Daily Yonder. The article analyzes data from the recently released federal Census of Agriculture to determine which rural farmers have access to broadband -- giving some insight into which rural areas still don't have coverage. While the data is from 2007, it shows that 31.3% of farms in rural counties have broadband connections, a percentage that jumps to 40% for farm operators in urban counties. Overall, just 33% of farms in 2007 had access to broadband connections. That mirrors data from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, who recently found that 31% of rural Americans had broadband connection.

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Forums » Farm Census Data Gives Insight Into Rural Broadband
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iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
·Comcast
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Sounds about right...

Small-lot semi-rural areas might have a few relatively fast WiSPs available to them. But once you get out into the sticks even more, bandwidth becomes expensive and you take what you can get. Heck, even a few dozen miles from San Antonio you've got providers who charge $40+ for a connection that isn't even termable as broadband.

Think duopolies are lousy for competition? With WiSPs no competition means cleaner spectrum, which is a good thing, but also a total non-incentive to upgrade service, which is bad. If you can get EvDO coverage Millenicom is an option, albeit at $60 per month plus equipment costs. However there are places where 3G isn't available, in which case you're rather hosed.
me1212

join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO
·VOIPo


1 edit

They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

By real I mean NOT WB/hughes ect. Wireless helps a LOT I have wireless, but it costs $55 a month for 512k-down and 128k-up, I understand that they are using T1 so it will cost more than DSL/cable, but if I had access to DSL I would get it, it(DSL access) stops LESS than 1 mile from my house. Dont get me wrong wireless rocks it can handle VOIP, but not every one can afford it, but I feel really sorry for those who ONLY have access to dial-up or sat. I know it costs to lay cables ect for DSL or cable, but I really wish they would give a crap about us, they WOULD make a probably profit, just not as big of one as they would like.
iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO

Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

Or have the wireless providers upgrade their backhauls and backhaul to cheaper bandwidth, then at the last mile use WiMAX. Getting cheaper every day.

Smith6612
Premium
join:2008-02-01
united state
Ever considered about asking your DSL provider for your area to consider installing an AdrenaLine DSL booster on your line? That might be able to push DSL to you if said provider is willing to install one for you.
me1212

join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO

Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

Could you explane in detail what that is, if it would work I KNOw that I could get ATLEAST 4 of my nighbors to go with me and help pay for it, all of us agree that we want DSL. ANd would it be able to handle VoIP?
iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO

Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

Your phone company would have to use AdrenaLine. Four people might not be enough. As far as VoIP goes, DSL + AdrenaLine would be just as reliable as DSL without at shorter distances.

AdrenaLine + 1 mile might get you DSL.
me1212

join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO

Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

Well there would be atleast 10+ people who would get the DSL, so I could most likly get that many people.
iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO

Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

Who's your telco? Bigger ones probably won't budge, smaller ones will.
me1212

join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO

Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

Embarq..... about 8 mi away is comcast. And I AMY be a little over a mile away from embarq.
zed260

join:2007-09-30
Cleveland, TN
·Charter Pipeline

Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

if you relly wanted to you could probably buy a t1 and share it among your neighbors (t1 costs around 550)if you and your frend split the costs among you it would be around 55 dollors per month

this would likely create some competation

as for getting dsl call embarq and tell them you have 10 ppl who want dsl in that area and see if they budge
me1212

join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO

Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

What would the speeds be on the T1?
zed260

join:2007-09-30
Cleveland, TN
well t1 speeds are 1500 kbs so around 150 kbps per user but since no one ever users there whole conntection 24/7 you could probably get around the same speed as what you get now maybe a bit faster

and would diffently be less latency
iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
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Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

Not much less latency though. A well-run wireless network has very low latency increases vs. a straight T1.

Personally, since you're relatively close to Kansas City, you could set up a microwave link (Trango stuff is relatively cheap) then get service from Level3 or Cogent in town (Cogent would be dirt cheap) and pipe it out to your place. It'd be a good bit cheaper than a T1 over the long run, and faster.
me1212

join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO

Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

I have dish already. And what is this microwave link? And how much would the start up cost and monthly cost be roughly?
iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
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Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

»www.trangobroadband.com/wireless···sa.shtml

That's the radio you'd want. Two of those would get you more bandwidth (set a radio link up halfway).

Monthly costs would be bandwidth and space wherever you're putting the radios. One would be on your place, and at least one wouldn't be.

If you were able to do such a thing, Joe's Datacenter might be able to cut you a deal so you'd pay a few hundred, tops, for a few megabits of bandwidth (a few X a T1) and space to mount the radio. You might even be able to get 10 Mbps for the price of a T1.

So, cheap, basically...you could call in and see what they'd do for you.
me1212

join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO

Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

cool.
iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
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Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

If you really wanted to get fancy and make your own WiSP, get some Cogent bandwidth in town for a few bucks per megabit, find a place to mount your radio, get an expensive Motorola Orthagon kit (with a nice amount of throughput) and use some WiMAX gear to distribute.

You could probably charge the same amount as KCWEB for setup and thus your equipment costs would be half made up for upfront. Charge a little less per month than they do ($45 maybe) and offer more bandwidth (2 Mbit down, 512 up maybe) and see how it goes. Just pulling stuff outta my rear end here but it just might work.
me1212

join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO

Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

they use cogent, and if you [ay 10 month is advance you get 2 free making it $45. And do you think I shoud ask about the arenaline(how do you say that?) on the embarq board?
iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
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Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

Go ahead and ask on the Embarq board. I know either Embarq or CenturyTel are actually using that exact tech. And they're merging...but CenturyTel only offers 512/128 or 512/256 DSL in extended reach areas if I remember correctly.

On Joe's Data Center the cost to put up a radio might be a lot higher than just putting a server in their place.
me1212

join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO

Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

ok, i'll do that,
zed260

join:2007-09-30
Cleveland, TN
you should ask embarq it wont hurt
iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
Embarq will probably do what you're askin,g if you call into the local office. They may only offer 768k DSL, but 768/384 for $44 is better than 512/128 for $55 right?
me1212

join:2008-11-20
Pleasant Hill, MO

1 edit

Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

That would be WAY better. Would they still do the dish bundle, I have dish?

And how is adrenaline pronuced?
iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO

Re: They are right, not that many have a REAL broadband.

T1s are commercial circuits, no bundling with anything. If you want Dish TV, just buy it separately.
iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
Oh, Embarq? They do DIsh bundling if I remember correctly.
iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
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If you were really crazy, you could ask someone like Joe's Datacenter (www.joesdatacenter.com) if you could get bandwidth from them and put an antenna on their building out to yours. THe upfront cost would be large, but after that the monthly cost should be low. Plus it'd be fast and you could share it with neighbors so it'd be even cheaper.

Eat Me

join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ
·PenTeleData
·Future Nine Corpor..
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·Vonage

My rural area

My ruralish area has broadband cable.

From what I heard quite a few of the farmers in the old days simply balked at the cost of running cable to their property. It could run as much as $14k for a line extension to your property. Of course many farmers told them to "take your gd dang cable and stick it where the sun dont shine" and they went with satellite instead (real CBand satellite, not the pizza dish crap).

Then when the cable company renewed the franchise agreement they wanted to raise rates $4 per customer to wire the whole town. Many others defected to satellite (pizza dish this time).

Then as time went on they ran more and more fiber deeper and deeper into the network, and now we have HD service and DOCSIS3. In fact it's so close I'm within walking distance to my local node.

But in the meantime the area got more and more populated where it's like the suburbs in some places. Still better than the rest of NJ but not as good (to me) as living in peace and quiet with space from people.

nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
·Speakeasy

Which Farmers and What Counts

There's a lot of *small* farmers out there - particularly as the local and organic foods movement has grown.

I know that, in the case of the farmer that runs our CSA, while he has "broadband", it's satellite broadband. It's not exactly a high-performance connection option. Though, given prior definitions of "high-speed", I guess it sort of qualifies.
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell

Eat Me

join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ
·PenTeleData
·Future Nine Corpor..
·VOIPo
·Vonage

Re: Which Farmers and What Counts

I don't think it's the farmers who want broadband.

You will find that the people in rural areas who want broadband essentially live in "bedroom communities" i.e. rural areas or semi-rural areas where the people work out of town.

Of course I'm guilty of the above but I have broadband.

nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
·Speakeasy

Re: Which Farmers and What Counts

said by Eat Me See Profile :

I don't think it's the farmers who want broadband.

You will find that the people in rural areas who want broadband essentially live in "bedroom communities" i.e. rural areas or semi-rural areas where the people work out of town.

Of course I'm guilty of the above but I have broadband.
It depends on the farmers. In areas like the DC metro area, many of the farmers are ones who've left their original careers to take up organic (boutique?) farming. While they're often looking to get away from the city, they often still want their broadband.
--
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell

powerhog
Stinkin' up the joint
Premium
join:2000-12-14
Owasso, OK
·AtlasOK

May not be as much a 'lack of demand' but a lack of availability OR refusal to pay what are really unreasonable rates.

I pay $65/month for a 1024/256 connection from a local WISP. My other "high-speed" (none qualify as broadband by the new definition) options are $71 768kbps down (upload unknown) DSL or some form of satellite based connection.

AnonFarmer

@rr.com

Farm Census

I do not recall a question on the Farm Census that I fill out regarding broadband.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

How much is Satellite? Or low speed Wireless?

IE: It's access but I wouldn't really call it broadband...
jimbopalmer
Tsar of all the Rushers

join:2008-06-02
Greenwood, MS
·Windjammer Cable


2 edits

Re: How much is Satellite? Or low speed Wireless?

Are asking how much does it cost? Or how fast is it?

My favorite local WISP is $50 a month residential, $100 a month Business for 1.4 symmetrical. (T-1 to the tower, divided by however many users)
»www.netwirelessllc.com/wireless_internet.htm
Another local WISP 3 mbps
»wallerwireless.com/Waller_Wirele···cing.htm

I am not as fond of satellite, but I use it at one school
»go.gethughesnet.com/plans.cfm
--
I tried to remain child-like, all I achieved was childish.
adams_aj

join:2004-08-31
Smithville, MO

Re: How much is Satellite? Or low speed Wireless?

I pay $99 a month ($1200 equipment cosst) for Hughesnet's Small Business option. On a good day, I get 900kbps down and 200 kbps up. I'm exactly 6 miles from Kansas City limits and have no other option than satellite and no hope of anything terrestrial, likely in my lifetime. I believe density is such that it would support it. There is a wisp nearby, but I don't have line-of-sight. I'm 6 miles either East or West to an interstate, or major state highway and in a EVDO dead zone.
--
DW6000, DirecWay Small Business, Galaxy 16 99W, trans 1210, 3PC network, WinXP/2000/98, LinkSys WRT54GS. Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
elray

join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA
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Solution in Search of a Problem?

And just how many "farmers" need anything beyond dialup speeds?

The cited example during campaign season was "checking crop reports" and "futures markets", all of which worked well on dialup and one-way pagers before. Why would they "need" "broadband" now?

Rural WISPs, satellite, and IDSL more than fill the "need". So they charge $50 a month and up. Who here pays less than $50 a month for their cell phone?

There is no justification for this kind of pork.
Forums » Farm Census Data Gives Insight Into Rural Broadband


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