For those predisposed to its allure, small-town USA is not going to lose its appeal anytime soon despite the worst humanity has to offer having been on display there recently in the form of school shootings. There's nowhere to flee. There's surely no safe haven to be found in the cities. Besides, random violence is not why those who flee the rural life flee.

They flee for jobs, and they flee for broadband. Both of which are still in short supply in too many areas. However, in the article below, FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein reassured the rural telecom community that the commission is working to ensure rural providers' ability to compete and deliver broadband services to their markets.

He said the ability to compete with national and international companies can be improved with broadband and that it is more critical than ever that rural telephone companies continue to upgrade their facilities. Easier said than done when the funds they previously relied on to upgrade those facilities and bring those services home are drying up.

If Adelstein's was the only mind that needed reaching in Washington, rural telephone companies might rest assured that the help they need would be coming their way. However, it could take a much louder voice than the one heard so far to reach all those in Washington that need reaching.

I have no doubt that rural America on its own will maintain the sense of security and community it is known for. But it will need help maintaining that sense of opportunity it must become known for.