Our view: How to grow our rural economy
The Fayetteville Observer published an editorial highlighting that in small towns and across the countryside in North Carolina, internet service "too often is barely faster than it was in the early days of dial-up service." The editorial stated that lawmakers "have been unwilling to recognize that fast internet service is no longer a luxury for gamers and movie buffs, but rather is an essential public utility that should be regulated and encouraged." It noted that until the government gets involved with expanding fiber-optic infrastructure and making fast internet service available to whoever wants and needs it, the state’s "rural areas will continue to face depressing economic prospects."