High Speed Internet On The Rise In Rural Markets

Good news for farmers and people that live in rural areas throughout the United States. The availability of high speed internet access, including cable, DSL, satellite and wireless methods is on the rise.

The USDA reports the proportion of operators using DSL doubled in 2007, at 27 percent, compared with the 2005 level of 13 percent. Cable, satellite, and wireless were each reported as the primary access methods on 7 percent of those U.S. farms with Internet access; with satellite and wireless methods both at virtually double their 2005 levels.

Dial up internet is still the biggest segment of rural internet access methods with 47% of rural populations still dialing in.