Jenni Glenn of Indiana's Fort Wayne Journal Gazette notes that most rural Indiana residents aren't yet reaping the benefits of wireless high-speed Internet access.

And that's not just true in Indiana. "Rural residents nationwide are subscribing to high-speed Internet at nearly half the rate of urban or suburban dwellers, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, which researches Internet use," Glenn writes.

Part of the problem is the expense of running fiber to hubs in rural areas, according to a Verizon spokesman.

On the other hand, Verizon's absence from rural areas can create opportunities for smaller Internet providers. "OnlyInternet Broadband and Wireless Inc. tripled the size of its network in the past year in an effort to bring high-speed Internet service to communities such as Berne and Decatur," Glenn writes.

OnlyInternet currently serves about 2,000 rural customers, partnering with community leaders who were "willing to bear the cost of setting up the service," according to Glenn.