Introduction: Reclaiming the rural

In 2009, as part of the U.S. federal economic stimulus package, President Barack Obama announced a 7.2 billion dollar expansion of rural broadband Internet access to reach the "underserved" (Berkes). Many rural areas lack broadband access and have only slow dial-up access or no Internet access at all. In an age when information technology is vital to the growth and development of small businesses and local economies, as well as our nation and our world, those who have little or no access to the Internet are being left behind on the wrong side of the "digital divide.".