Sunday, Feb 20 2011 7:27PM
Many people in rural Washington state do not have access to high-speed Internet options.
Nearly 150,000 households in rural sections of Washington state do not have broadband Internet access, prompting some residents to find creative ways to log onto the web, reported Washington State University's Murrow News Service.
For instance, some residents of Farmington, a town with a population of 155, have resorted to parking their cars outside of the local library to access its wireless Internet on their laptops. Local Shelly Hansen told the news source the sight is a common occurrence since many people do not have adequate Internet access in their homes.
According to the news service, in 2001 Washington was fourth in the nation in adopting broadband service, but that ranking dropped to 16th by 2009. Some officials worry that limited web access can further isolate small towns, limit educational opportunities and negatively affect rural community development.
"For those who don't have it, there's a serious chance that they'll be left behind,"Monica Babine, a senior associate for digital inclusion at Washington State University Extension, told the source.
The U.S. Department of Commerce reports only 60 percent of rural households have broadband web access compared to 70 percent of urban households. Furthermore, the agency said 28 percent of Americans do not use the Internet in any form although it has become an important — and even necessary — part of American life for some.