It is often tempting to think that the Internet is still just something that we as a society (and as individuals who operate within our society) can simply take or leave as we choose. But when it comes right down to it, the Internet is a utility, just as certainly as water, electricity and the natural gas that allows us to heat our homes are all utilities. And when the Internet has a problem, just like when any of the other utilities experience a temporary loss of service, this can cause everyone to have a more difficult day. After all, a lot of people make their livings and conduct their social lives primarily through the net. This makes it a little bit difficult for a person to go without it. Fortunately, in many parts of the country, nobody has to anymore.
In a lot of communities around the country, they are actually putting wireless Internet signals into the air. This allows everybody to use them for free, no matter what their social class might be. Whereas in the past you had to be of a certain income bracket to be able to shell out for the Internet, now all you have to concern yourself with is being able to afford to buy a wireless enabled computer to use the net with. That does not even cost a lot.
What is really neat is that this is not a dial up type of signal. While the security level is abysmal (after all, anyone at all can use it), the speed is actually fairly good when you can get the signal strongly. Naturally, the further away you are the less enabled your connection will be. But within the city limits of many places in the country, from now on you will have to worry about not having the Internet about as often as you might worry about not having water or electricity (as in, not too often).