For Nils Johnson, accessing the internet for work requires driving down a hill and pointing his vehicle toward a data antenna to obtain a signal.
Johnson, who lives south of Chewelah, had internet at home via a Verizon hotspot, which provided access to Zoom meetings, email and Netflix. That service disappeared in November, and Johnson is unable to work out of his office in town because he is caring for his children, who are learning from home as a result of COVID-19 school closures.
Communication is imperative for Johnson, who transports local produce to food pantries, grocery stores and gas stations as an agriculture extension coordinator for Washington State University’s Stevens County Extension.
“I’m used to working out of my vehicle, but this is taking it to a whole new level,” he said.
Johnson is among many residents in rural communities nationwide with limited or nonexistent internet access because of the lack of infrastructure and cost of installing fiber optics or cell towers.
Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, which forced most employees to work from home and schools to shift to online learning to help stem the spread of COVID-19, has placed even more emphasis on the digital divide in rural areas.
“Now, with the stay-at-home order, everybody is using Zoom, so most times I can’t download email until 10:30 at night,” Johnson said, referring to the increase in network traffic amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Last night, I was trying to engage in a text conversation with a 10-minute delay. So far, the voice signal is fine, thanks to the fact that I have an antenna and amplifier in my house.”
The lack of broadband access in rural communities is “a long-term problem and not an easy fix,” said Debra Hansen, director for WSU’s Stevens County Extension, and facilitator of the Stevens County and Spokane Tribe Broadband Action Team.
“I think with COVID-19, it has really raised everybody’s awareness of (the lack of broadband access) because you can’t apply for unemployment benefits and housing assistance,” she said. “All those things – we’ve been talking about for years.”