The Everyday Effect of Slow Internet in Rural Communities

Emily Roof, of Sparta, Missouri, is a mother of three and works a full-time job. During the most recent snowstorm in Southern Missouri, many schools closed for several days. For those with high-speed internet, the snow days allowed for gaming and streaming movies. For Emily, that wasn’t the case.

“Only one kid could do schoolwork at a time, we couldn’t even stream movies while doing that,” says Emily. When asked about the response of her internet provider, Emily says there is nothing they can do. “They’re like….’You’re stuck with us, so you’re going to get what you can get’”. Emily has reached out to other companies such as Verizon Wireless, and while they currently offer 5g service in Sparta, Missouri the pricing is high. “It’s awesome that they offer it, but I can’t afford that every month,” says Emily.

Sparta Main Street. Sparta, Missouri. Photo by Hollow Root Media.

“This is an ongoing problem,” says David Phillips, another Sparta resident, “You can have Starlink and Verizon, but if a storm rolls in, say goodbye to doing anything.” David has lived in the Sparta area his whole life. “It gets worse when you go out to places like Chadwick or Gainesville. You can’t even get cable out that way, let alone reliable internet.”

One of many rural houses near Sparta, Missouri. Photo by Hollow Root Media.

In a January 2026 press release, United States Senator Ted Cruz (R-Tx) had this to say : “However, innovative companies that want to expand access to high-speed Internet for Americans face an outdated regulatory process, leading to massive delays in the deployment of new satellite technologies.” In a bipartisan effort to reduce the regulations that companies have to pass in order to launch a satellite, he and United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt) are working to get high-speed internet to rural communities.

When asked about the Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act, Emily was surprised. “I was not aware of that…it would be incredible. I would be able to get a work at home job and spend more time with my kids.” For Emily, working from home isn’t just about convenience; it’s about attendance. “I wouldn’t have to call out if a kid gets sick, or for snow days. Unfortunately, my internet keeps me out of that job market,” says Emily.