| The story of the world's reliance on satellites as a | | | | telephone central offices were located, many |
| source of information and entertainment, at least | | | | consumers adopted broadband as soon as it |
| where civilian usage is concerned, starts in the | | | | became available, ditching the slow telephone |
| 1970's. A California scientist realized that the | | | | modem access of the Internet's first years. For |
| satellites used to provide television programming | | | | those in more far-flung locations, however, |
| to terrestrial service providers could be tapped | | | | broadband was not available. Unless, of course, |
| into with the right antenna, which he constructed, | | | | they got their broadband access from a satellite, |
| thus launching a revolution in the delivery of | | | | where the reach of wires is not a factor in |
| entertainment. Until 1984, when a Congressional | | | | availability. |
| act gave providers the authority to encrypt their | | | | In the United States, the most rural areas are |
| signals, the information being beamed by any | | | | usually farm country. Farmers have been |
| satellite was fair game for those in possession of | | | | increasingly making use of computers and the |
| the necessary equipment. | | | | Internet for business purposes. According to the |
| Fast forward to the 1990's. Satellite television has | | | | US Department of Agriculture, farms using |
| become a subscription service and the hundreds | | | | satellite Internet services doubled between 2005 |
| of available channels have helped it enjoy fast | | | | and 2007, demonstrating the popularity of this |
| adoption and constant growth. The shrinking size | | | | service for those in rural areas. |
| of the hardware means that the antennas, which | | | | In other countries, particularly those with little |
| used to take up a good portion of a user's yard, | | | | infrastructure, satellite Internet provides the same |
| now fit on rooftops. At the same time, the | | | | access to news and information from around the |
| Internet is fast becoming a commercial and | | | | world as it does in developed nations. In some |
| recreational medium to be reckoned with. The | | | | areas where flooding, fire and other seasonal |
| availability of so much information, from | | | | hazards are constant threats to inhabitants, the |
| anywhere in the world, has resulted in consumer | | | | access the Internet provides to real-time |
| interest in a new technology not seen since | | | | forecasting data, such as radar and satellite |
| television became the entertainment standard in | | | | imaging is a potential life-saver. Even those out at |
| the 1950's. | | | | sea or in the deepest deserts of the world can |
| Satellite service providers soon realized that, in | | | | now access the Internet using portable devices, |
| addition to television and radio services, they could | | | | which ensures that their location can be |
| provide Internet access through their technology | | | | determined in an emergency or their discoveries |
| as well. In cities where cable television and | | | | can be shared, instantly, with the world at large. |