What options are available? Any suggestions?
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satellite. that's really about it.
If you can get Verizon service they have a good connection that I use.
When I got my verizon stick I never knew how I ever lived with dial up.
Trust me when I tell you that I have researched this question for 2 years ongoing and with no definite solution except dial up or satellite. The satellite option being Hughes Net and an $80+ bill every month(also hundreds in up front equipment cost) for service that is not all that great to begin with. I have several family members who have Hughes Net now and have had it in the past and they all say the same thing, not to bother.
Then there is the cell tower(wireless internet) option if you can get it but we cannot get ANY signal here. Have tried both verizon AND AT&T and both would not get a signal at all here even though we have full bar cell phone coverage here. They said we could purchase a special mini-tower that would install on our roof and amplify the signal but it is close to $300 to purchase up front and that is just not do-able for us right now.
What really makes it frustrating is that there is DSL(AT&T -$14.99 month) just 2 miles down the road from us but no hopes of it ever reaching our house anytime in the near future.
At some point I think people who live in rural areas just have to accept dial up as their only alternative. It's a sad but very real reality in rural North Alabama.
Then there is the cell tower(wireless internet) option if you can get it but we cannot get ANY signal here. Have tried both verizon AND AT&T and both would not get a signal at all here even though we have full bar cell phone coverage here. They said we could purchase a special mini-tower that would install on our roof and amplify the signal but it is close to $300 to purchase up front and that is just not do-able for us right now.
What really makes it frustrating is that there is DSL(AT&T -$14.99 month) just 2 miles down the road from us but no hopes of it ever reaching our house anytime in the near future.
At some point I think people who live in rural areas just have to accept dial up as their only alternative. It's a sad but very real reality in rural North Alabama.
About once every 6 months, AT&T sends my mom a notice in the mail saying DSL is available in their area. Then, when she calls, no such luck. It sucks.
You almost have to hope people still know morse code, dial up internet isnt much better than that!
You almost have to hope people still know morse code, dial up internet isnt much better than that!
That may very well be true Kirk but it sure beats NOTHING. 
There is an advertisement on craigslist in the Shoals area section that say's Free internet connection...no up front fee's...free installation and high speed internet for $30 a month..might be something to check on...
I only have, with luck, 2 bars on my Verizon phone. And I have no problem with my wireless internet from them.
I guess it depends on how much you want to spend. I don't know about all of Franklin County but if you are very far down 243 the satellite is about it. I had that back in 02 & 03 when it was direcway and at the time it was a lot better than dial up at least and hopefully it would have improved by now. I can get verizon sporadically through the area but not much of a signal. If you need it for business use then it might be worth the money for a fractional T-1 which can start at about 250 a month.