Rural America has a serious internet problem

Rural America.
(Image credit: John Moore/Getty Images)

Millions of rural Americans are stranded in the "dial-up age" as internet providers continue to under-serve regions outside of major metropolitan centers, The Wall Street Journal reports. Approximately 39 percent of the rural population in the country — about 23 million people — don't have "fast" internet, which is defined as having the speed to support "email, web surfing, video streaming, and graphics for more than one device at once," the Journal writes. On the other hand, only 4 percent of urban dwellers lack fast internet.

Consider, for example, conditions in Washington County, Missouri, which has a density of just 33 people per square mile:

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.