Sam is one of five children in a large family with inherited diabetes. They live twelve miles from the nearest paved road and almost an hour away from the nearest town with retail stores and medical services. Their home is on the land that their ancestors settled hundreds of years ago to raise livestock. Over the years, Sam's family has tried to find other means for income like making and selling food and handcrafts since water sources for their animals have been less reliable. Most people in their family have earned high school diplomas, but Sam really wants to go to trade school to learn how to install solar power systems and own a business. 

Sometimes Sam's road is impassable because of washouts and can sometimes break their vehicle, so it's hard to see the doctor and fill prescriptions, attend council meetings and church, and keep a regular school and work schedule. Sam found an online training program and a scholarship to pay for classes, but the internet connection is not fast enough for them to use a computer and stay connected. Sam can sometimes browse to websites on a smartphone when the cellular service is good at the top of the hill, but the screen is too small to do the required coursework for school. The streaming lectures often stall and drop after a few minutes, as do council meetings. Sam has looked into other telecom and data services, but their community is part of the 'checkerboard area' where many different governments and agencies manage the land and have different rules that make it hard for providers to bring in new connections. 

Sam does not want to leave their family home and wants to stay healthy. Many people are depending on Sam to help take care of the family and the land for future generations. If their community had access to reliable internet service at a reasonable cost, Sam could complete the vocational training program, comparison shop for tools and supplies, advertise their business, hire a helper or two, and bring solar power to hundreds of other homes and businesses. Sam's family members could also sell their crafts and food online, and continue their own education. Sam's sister wants to be a nurse. Sam's cousin wants to make movies with drones. Sam could schedule routine telehealth appointments, fill necessary prescriptions, and connect with support groups that offer other helpful advice and resources. Without internet access, Sam's family will miss out on opportunities that others take for granted. Without access, Sam could potentially succumb to the feelings of hopelessness living in a community that is less likely to thrive without this modern necessity.