Click Here Almost Heaven, no reception
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Oct 7, 2025 Explore the challenges of rural internet access through the eyes of a Mississippi farmer. Discover the innovative microwave network solution he proposes, inspired by military tech. The pandemic exposed the dire consequences of connectivity issues for education and health. Historical parallels to rural electrification highlight the ongoing struggle for equitable access. Political shifts complicate broadband policy, while personal stories reveal the true costs of getting online. Ultimately, the conversation centers on who gets to shape the future through connectivity.
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Farmer Locked Out By Bad Connectivity
- Obie Riley is a farmer and county supervisor who struggles with terrible connectivity outside Philadelphia, Mississippi. He runs an auto shop and often cannot download repair manuals or sync farm equipment to the cloud.
Military Lessons To Connect Rural Areas
- Obie used his Coast Guard contacts to plan a microwave wireless grid after seeing military deployments work in deserts. He believed microwave links could quickly cover large rural areas without fiber or phone lines.
Rural Fiber Is Costlier And Less Profitable
- Building fiber in rural areas costs far more per mile because houses are spread out, so private companies avoid low-return regions. That makes government involvement or creative financing essential to reach universal coverage.