[yarddog]

My exterminator has broadband and he says it is really, really fast in a town only 20 miles from here. He is only paying $19 per month.

[freeandfreezing]

Your exterminator may have DSL service - that is way faster than dial-up, and can be had for under $20.00 per month. But you are unlikely to get that in a rural area since it relies on sending high speed signals over the existing copper phone wires and is limited to a fairly short distance from the phone company switching facility.

Check out www.dslreports.com under "find service" to see what broadband service is available near you. More typically you get a full bore cable or fiber build out - bringing you cable TV and digital phone service too. That ends up costing you around $100 per month.

Here is an example for central Florida advertised by Comcast. It sounds like a real deal but read the fine print -- you have to get cable TV or phone, and then after 6 months the price goes up:

$19.99 a month for 6 months <== The introductory rate

We deliver speeds way faster than DSL over our advanced fiber-optic network. Offer ends 6/30/09, and is limited to new residential customers with accounts in good standing. Not available in all areas. Offer limited to Performance High-Speed Internet and requires subscription to either Comcast Cable or phone service at regular rates. To qualify for offer, service must be ordered via www.comcast.com. AFTER THE 6 MONTH PROMOTIONAL PERIOD OR IF ANY SERVICE IS DOWNGRADED, COMCAST’S REGULAR CHARGES APPLY UNLESS SERVICE IS CANCELED. SERVICE MAY BE CANCELED BY CALLING 1-800-COMCAST. Comcast’s current monthly service charges for the advertised services range from $42.95 to $59.95, and may vary depending on your area and other Comcast services (if any) received. <=== The real price, plus you have to get cable tv or phone service too!!!

Of course if you are on a hill (rare in Florida, I know) and have a good line of sight to the town where your exterminator is, you could possibly set up a long point to point wireless link (Wi-Fi technology with high gain antennas). Then you get the low cost DSL link and find somebody with a high tower or tree in town you can park your antenna on. Google "Long Range WiFi" to learn about this solution.

I was in exactly the same situation in our rural town a few years ago - we finally got broadband and it is worth the money.