Internet Access can be provided at a cost-effective rate now! 

I recently read a newspaper article describing various new broadband services for rural areas. I'm not an electrical technician, if fact my son calls me a tech-no-tard, but I know we need broadband Internet services for our rural business, homes and vacation homes. The technology can now reach even the hardest to reach places, doing it economically and reliably, linking those places to the global economy.

A recent presentation to the Wisconsin Technology Council board of directors underscored how changing technology and help from the Federal Stimulus Bill can bring broadband to parts of rural Wisconsin  where costs are otherwise too high. They said, Broadband over power line technology  can get people off dial-up Internet access at a cost effective rate. Couple that with expansion of cell sites and 3G wireless, we will actually be able to stay connected. The technology has been around for a few years so I think it is time to jump in, with both feet. We need to get on the band wagon and claim part of the $7.2 billion federal stimulus money for the North Woods.

You may ask, why is this so important to the Lakeland area? The answer is simple, our economy depends on tourism. Business people can and do work on vacation almost anywhere in the world but  not in the North Woods. This service would allow local business owners to go global, families on vacation to do a bit of work whereby enabling them to extend their stay, home based businesses to blossom, and improve economic development in general.

We need to pursue the technology now! Minocqua is the Island City and can not afford to be a communications island. I urge you to call all of our public officials and demand they bring  the new cost-effective broadband access solutions to Minocqua and the North Woods.

We look forward to your comments and questions. Please contact us at marcia@minocquamortgage.com or go to www.minocquamortgage.com for additional information.