24 Million Americans Don't Have Broadband Internet Access

Mid-terms are closely approaching and a major topic no one is talking about is that 24 million Americans have little to NO access to broadband internet. Kim Horcher and B. Dave Walters discuss the chaotic mid-term season and how Americans can get the broadband access they need. Let us know if you think this issue should be discussed more by politicians running for office in 2018.

“Many elections around the US this year are more closely watched and highly contested races than the typical midterm. With so much at stake, you’d think an issue that affects more than 24 million Americans would be easy pickings for campaign platforms. Yet few candidates, from local mayoral races all the way up to the Senate, provide lip service to the fact that millions of Americans still lack access to broadband, and even fewer flesh out a robust policy to address it. At a time when politics is more divisive than ever, basic issues such as access to the internet are being overshadowed by the massive ideological clashes happening across the country.”

NerdAlert is a talk and discussion show for the well-rounded nerd, bringing you tech news, gaming, geek culture and more EVERY DAY of the week with host Kim Horcher and friends. Proudly part of the TYT Network.

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KIM:

[jaimie]

You tell him, Kim. You can't do jack these days with dial up. And there are a lot of information sources that are only available on the internet. I'm also from rural America (originally from OK, now in the U.P. of Michigan), and you talk to people without broadband internet, and they have NO IDEA what's happening in the world. It's not for lack of effort, it's from lack of sources. IF they have a library in their rural community, it will be small. The newspapers, if they exist anymore, will be small and focus only on local things. Most of these communities do not have cable TV. You have to take all of this into account when thinking about the kinds of communities where they don't have broadband.

[ActuallyDoubleGuitars]

Yea Kim tell it sis... How can you be educated or connected or do business of any kind in this world today, without the Internet. Even rural Ireland wants it and they are closer to getting it then you guys are.

[craignca]

What is it with Mr. "Negative Nancy?" Seems like he has no clue how frustrating this issue is. When we moved out the the countryside, I called the local internet provider and was told it was available for me. So guess what. When they arrived to install it, I was told that I was in an area where they don't provide service. Even though just a few houses down the road they had internet.

Well. . .that was 12 years ago. I call the internet providers at least once a month and so far, no success. Myself and my neighbors are even willing to pay extra to get it installed. Still no internet. We are all forced to use the cellular network providers which costs a lot.

I pay almost all my bills on-line. I keep in-touch with friends and relatives on-line. I read the news on-line. I purchase clothes on-line because I use a wheelchair and it's hard for me to get to the stores. It's no longer a luxury but a necessity.

One of the providers had the balls to send a postcard addressed to me to say that all I had to do is call them -- so I did. Still got turned down. And what's the deal with legislation that says that communities can't set up their own internet service? What really is happening is that big business had ME by the balls.

[treyatl]

I actually live in a rural area. I'm actually lucky since I'm one of the few who have access to high speed internet. And fyi At&t is phasing out that access in our area. New people that move to the area aren't allowed to get access even if the previous residents had access. If my internet service cuts off then I wouldn't be able to or it would be very difficult to get service to my home. Many are speculating that At&t will then use low enrollment as an excuse to shutter the service to the few people they provide in rural areas. They have their lobbyist in DC to get the rules and laws changed.

[taimao]

I don't think I want that guest returning. I feel like he just insulted a group of people that may not have the money to move somewhere new.

[Vichtyr]

That other guy doesn't seem very bright

[ziljin]

I'm still stuck on Verizon DSL 3 Mbps. Sad. It's super slow.

[nicodimus]

My girlfriend doesn't have it. She wants it, and is willing to pay for it, but she lives on a farm. Comcast will not run a line down her long driveway, and it's the only service available in the area, so she's screwed. Her job is tied to the animals on the farm, so moving isn't really an option. Before you make fun of farmers, where the hell do you think your food comes from?

[spacecadet]

Went to Alaska. Alaskans said to give them 50 years for setting up water and electricity service to everyone.

[UltimatePerfection]

Mostly because they don't want to have. And yes, I call not moving to San Francisco or other place with broadband and leaving Farmtown, OR behind ”not wanting to".

[WalaStika]

It's obvious Walters has had a taste of the sweet broadband nectar. Take that away from him for years and let's see how he feels about broadband then.

[RRW]

What is broadband? I've heard some places I've heard that it means you get internet through coax cable or fiber (which means me and my DSL doesn't count), but I've heard other places it refers to a certain speed and above regardless of connection type. If it's the later, what speed is it?

[robertgronewold]

This guy guesting in this video is so wrong! I'm from Iowa, and for YEARS we had a governor who was actively preventing broadband internet to more rural areas, even though there was a strong demand by the people there. Lots of farmers use the internet these days.

[Dave]

Looks like Kim is wearing an UNIQLO UT and ULD jacket.

[angrynoodletwentyfive]

yeah... Believe it or not people can actually survive without internet... anything you would actually NEED it for can be achieved by going to a public library and using the computers or taking your lap top to a coffee house with WIFI... it's not like food and water.

[edgeninja]

I support as many Americans getting high-speed internet access as possible. Otherwise, the only source of information for these people is right wing radio.

[DJMaster]

Kim's expression during this was hilarious, was just like "whatever dude"

[blastermaster]

Kim Horcher, keeping it real. This guest is terrible.

[bullsfan]

healthcare is more important that internet access. you can get internet access at the library or starbucks

[dougalsii]

Fedora-guy was a bit of a douche. Didn't see that one coming :P