Check to see if you have any wifi companies in your area providing service. These systems are line-of-sight, so if you cannot see the provider tower, you can’t get service. Chances are if the community you are 12 mi from is small, there may not be a provider in the area.

Your other option is the new cellular based service. Basically, your provider sets you up with a converter box that plugs into a wall outlet. It is about 40% more expensive than regular DSL, but they are currently being advertised in Canada as “portable internet”. You can take the box with you, and as long as you have their cellular service where you go (and 120v power), you have internet.

You CAN try a satellite provider but you’re going to pay a fortune for it and it probably will only be about 3 times faster than dial up.

I found this link for an ISP in NC:
I’m not sure EXACTLY where you live, but you can check out the site and see if you’re in range.

Here’s an actual list of ISPs in NC
You may need to browse through them to see if any are provided in your area.

I feel your pain with the dial up. Unfortunately not every area in America is Internet-ready….yet. Wimax may change that in the future…but that’s a long way down the road.

Also, here’s some tips on how to increase your dial up internet speed:

Good luck!

I live in a small town too. and right now I’m using dial-up as you are, i would recommend looking in the phone book maybe and calling phone companies or Internet companies in your area and ask around. That’s what i would do if i was in your situation. Good luck with it.

Good luck! My neighbor got DSL a full year before I could get it, and our phone wires were coming off the same pole. But eventually everyone will be able to get DSL off your phone lines. Just a matter of time. You might try satellite, but it’s expensive.

Have you tried going through your cable or phone company?

You can get it via satellite, but it is not real cheap. I think either dish network or direct tv are still offering hi speed internet via satellite.

The only way you can do that is have them run a cable out there to you… Which they will then charge you for that, and it’s not cheap.

But other than that, if they don’t offer it… your out of luck until they do.

Try moving to a more populated area.

Nope. You may be able to use satellite internet though but I’m not sure.