Hi-speed internet is coming to rural Wisconsin

[Sir Henry]

The federal government did a study on Covid19 and came to the conclusion those without hi-speed internet were more likely to die from covid. To combat this the feds are financing low cost fiber optics in rural areas including where I’m at. I’m told I will have cheap fiber optics within a year. I’ve wondered what the huge rolls of wire along the roads were doing there.

I currently can have satellite internet however it’s several hundred dollars a month. Right now I’m paying about $50 and it’s as slow as the local maple syrup.

Okay everyone back to work and pay your taxes so I can benefit.

[dave77]

I didn't realize satellite internet was so expensive. Glad I have PUD fiber, $50 for 100/10.

[Sir Henry]

I didn't realize satellite internet was so expensive. Glad I have PUD fiber, $50 for 100/10.

It’s so expensive most people here can’t afford it. In the city if you run a mile of fiber optics you can hook up several hundred if not a thousand people. Here you might only sign up a dozen making it not profitable to lay the fiber. Hence the government’s involvement.

[CT_Shooter]

Okay everyone back to work and pay your taxes so I can benefit.

Glad you brought that up.

You're gonna love that broadband, Gene; though maybe not nearly as much as shooting spinners in your new backyard range.

Happily, everyone in the USA will significantly benefit from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act).

https://www.whitehouse.gov/bipartisan-i ... cture-law/

It's gonna make a lot of our lives better in some unexpected ways.

I enjoy following your personal evolution as you post it on the forum. We share a deeply similar experience.

[dave77]

I'm not too far from town but would probably not have fiber if it was up to private companies. Our county PUD ran all the fiber and they have some sort of a lease agreement with the local ISP's to actually provide the service. The county PUD's that own their dams on the Columbia River have excess power that they sell on the open market. Our county owns 2 dams and they make enough on their power sales to subsidize things like fiber, a domestic water system and a pretty extensive park system. And we still have one of the lowest electric rates in the country.

[Sir Henry]

Okay everyone back to work and pay your taxes so I can benefit.

Glad you brought that up.

You're gonna love that broadband, Gene; though maybe not nearly as much as shooting spinners in your new backyard range.

Happily, everyone in the USA will significantly benefit from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act).

https://www.whitehouse.gov/bipartisan-i ... cture-law/

It's gonna make a lot of our lives better in some unexpected ways.

I enjoy following your personal evolution as you post it on the forum. We share a deeply similar experience.

Sometimes I wonder if I post too much. If I stub my toe I’ll make a post. Seriously building a rimfire range was top priority in finding a place. I could have afforded a mansion and I chose this modest farmhouse. It’s not just the house that makes this area so special. The residents are really welcoming. Families welcome me to their tables and two women have asked me out. I’m really reluctant to get into a relationship with a long time resident. If it goes south I’m stuck living next door to them.

I wouldn’t mind having an activity partner, someone that likes to hike and go on day trips to see the state.

[Hatchdog]

You don’t post too much Gene, I believe that we all are enjoying following along with your journey. Most of us wouldn’t have the where-with-all to make the life change you have gone thru. Besides, for me and probably others HRF is my version of Facebook.

My son who just moved from Spokane to a rural home has/had the same issue with internet as you. He works from home and a solid connection is critical for him. There is DSL in the phone line that serves his place but the company CenturyLink has some equipment issues in his location. So he was forced to use satellite and it is/was over $200 per month. Fortunately his company pays for it but a cap on the dollar amount was set to be put in place later this year. Good news is CenturyLink has repaired the equipment in his area and he was able to switch to the DSL which is $53 per month. I am on this same service and it is fine for what we do, light internet surfing and TV streaming.

[Sir Henry]

You don’t post too much Gene, I believe that we all are enjoying following along with your journey. Most of us wouldn’t have the where-with-all to make the life change you have gone thru. Besides, for me and probably others HRF is my version of Facebook.

My son who just moved from Spokane to a rural home has/had the same issue with internet as you. He works from home and a solid connection is critical for him. There is DSL in the phone line that serves his place but the company CenturyLink has some equipment issues in his location. So he was forced to use satellite and it is/was over $200 per month. Fortunately his company pays for it but a cap on the dollar amount was set to be put in place later this year. Good news is CenturyLink has repaired the equipment in his area and he was able to switch to the DSL which is $53 per month. I am on this same service and it is fine for what we do, light internet surfing and TV streaming.

My DSL internet is really slow. I stuck an antenna up for TV and got 30 channels however 23 of them were shopping which I never watch. Then I ordered satellite for $83 a month for three months and then it will jump to $127. It’s nice to have a dozen movie channels with no commercials.

I don’t have a land line and won’t pay the $200 for satellite internet. My property taxes and utilities are about a third what I was paying. Sales tax is about half and I don’t think any of my income will be taxable.

So far my biggest expenses has been “stuff” like shovels and rakes and furniture. I sold, gave away or just left behind 95% of my belongings. It’s kind of nice to start fresh again although it is time consuming and expensive.

[Hatchdog]

I noticed the sticker on the shovel in the mud. Kinda cool that you are re-supplying in the new area. That’s a good way to establish relationships with the local stores.

[daytime dave]

So far my biggest expenses has been “stuff” like shovels and rakes and furniture. I sold, gave away or just left behind 95% of my belongings. It’s kind of nice to start fresh again although it is time consuming and expensive.
[/quote]

Yes, I can agree with and understand that.
I'm glad things are going well there.

[Sir Henry]

I noticed the sticker on the shovel in the mud. Kinda cool that you are re-supplying in the new area. That’s a good way to establish relationships with the local stores.

I bought a propane tank yesterday for my barbecue at Tractor Supply. When I was having it filled I talked to the young man about living here. It’s really refreshing to live in an area where 70% of the population voted like I did.

I dropped off my trash at the transfer station on Saturday and a woman approached me asking if I was the new guy in town. She let me know she wasn’t married or dating anyone and kept complementing on my hair and looks. I got the feeling she wanted me to ask her out which I didn’t. I did get her phone number. She is a cousin to my neighbor where I’ve had dinner twice. I’m really reluctant to get involved with anyone that lives so close and have had family in the area for 150 years.

[daytime dave]

I noticed the sticker on the shovel in the mud. Kinda cool that you are re-supplying in the new area. That’s a good way to establish relationships with the local stores.

I bought a propane tank yesterday for my barbecue at Tractor Supply. When I was having it filled I talked to the young man about living here. It’s really refreshing to live in an area where 70% of the population voted like I did.

I dropped off my trash at the transfer station on Saturday and a woman approached me asking if I was the new guy in town. She let me know she wasn’t married or dating anyone and kept complementing on my hair and looks. I got the feeling she wanted me to ask her out which I didn’t. I did get her phone number. She is a cousin to my neighbor where I’ve had dinner twice. I’m really reluctant to get involved with anyone that lives so close and have had family in the area for 150 years.

You sound like a pretty sought after commodity there Gene. I agree with your sentiments. Those folks have been there for a long time. Make one of them not like you as much and that perfect world might change a bit.

[Sir Henry]

High speed internet has finally made it to my house. They buried it today although it might be a couple months before it’s active.

D9B963D6-9958-4F7D-ACF3-113C0B019153.jpeg (5.6 MiB) Viewed 5378 times

I’m not sure I will even sign up for it. My AT&T iPhone is 5G and serves me well.

[Travlin]

Did your old computer burn kerosene or was it a wood burner? LOL

[Sir Henry]

Did your old computer burn kerosene or was it a wood burner? LOL

It was fired by coal.

[Mags]

Lived through several "Hi Speed Internet Coming Soon" generations.
First was from 24Kb/s to 56KKb/s modem
Then broadband DSL modem to 384Kb/s
Then early FIOS up to 30Mb/s
Now here the minimum speed is 100Mb/s with a maximum of 50Gb/s

[Travlin]

Anthracite or smoky soft coal? How many know that the term "cinder block " does not mean made of concrete but made from cinders of coal. I get upset when these web sites say they are shooting a "cinder block" when it is not. Good luck with the high speed connection.

[Mags]

Ya and cinder blocks aren't even made any more. What is made now are 'Concrete Masonry Blocks'.

[rickhem]

Does anyone have experience with Starlink? The Elon Musk satellite internet thing.

[daytime dave]

High speed internet is certainly better than dial up or satellite. I just tested my chromebook speed, 85 mbs. My ipad had 365 mbs. I think I'm supposed to get 100 mbs according to the provider.
I have the whole house streaming Chaka Khan and am surfing the internet without delay. Fast enough for me. I hope yours gets going soon Gene.
I would have never thought I'd be doing this 30 or so years ago.