When I say Microsoft’s least evil move I say that with all due respect.

But honestly, there have been a lot of reason to resent Microsoft over the years. As long as I’ve been using computers, the 90’s, Microsoft has been the elite computer company with an affordable if not a cheap operating system. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Computers used to be cobbled together by hobbyists and an accessible operating system helped create access for people who couldn’t otherwise afford it. My family is included in that. We didn’t go to a Babbage’s and pick out a computer. Some guy built it from scratch and we called him every time something went wrong.

But those were the early years.

One might argue, that as a direct result of cheap computers, Windows has also existed as an operating system that was easily destroyed by a virus or malware. This has not changed in recent times as WannaCry and Petya have brought countless citizens and governments to their knees. As it turns out it’s really easy. Learn how to overwrite the master boot record and deliver a payload that will stop the system from booting. Everybody knows that… Unless you didn’t know that. I didn’t know that. But today we’re putting aside this backlog of bad karma to see what Microsoft is up to in rural America.

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“I think the ethernet port is around back.”

If you haven’t heard. Large sections of rural America don’t have proper internet.

Many of these communities are 20 years behind the rest of the internet connected world and trapped inside of various, puttering, pay-as-you-go internet access contracts. In poorer communities, this pay-as-you go model de-incentivises internet use. Leaving rural Americans painfully out of the loop on all fronts. In parts of the world where internet access is widely available, information is at the fingertips of anyone interested. Bringing citizens closer to unfettered educational opportunities. And this time in what might sound like a money making scheme- but isn’t, Microsoft is finally on the right side of history.

They have unveiled a plan to utilize unused frequencies or “TV white spaces”

to broadcast wireless internet throughout these rural communities. This is something that Microsoft tested back in 2009 when it unveiled several tests in Washington, Singapore, Brazil, and China. And they will do so with public and private support. To begin, Microsoft has asked the federal government that more frequencies be deemed “white spaces” within the spectrum and be released for use of this nature.

Surprisingly, despite assumptions that they feed on the souls of the weak… Microsoft will not own the network outlets in these rural areas but will instead provide seed money to partners in those rural areas. With a broader funding plan that relies on federal and state grants matching seed money to develop this new infrastructure. As for big numbers, the project works out to approximately $10 Billion for 23 Million people. Which is less than $500 per person. And the lucky states on the list are Washington, Arizona, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Virginia, New York, and Maine.

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“You see, Grandpa, the internet is a faceless deity that trolls everything you hold dear.”

I for one think this is a great idea. Microsoft working with the government to provide millions with internet access? This is akin to telephones at the turn of the 20th century.

What could be evil about that? Is it perhaps the quality of the internet access?

While I’ve definitely spent lots of time listening to the radio on road trips over the years. Has anyone ever driven through rural American when the frequency for the radio station you’re listening to is suddenly out of range? Everything gets really fuzzy while you frantically change the dial to a neighboring frequency in hopes of catching the end of that song or news broadcast? Most of the time, you listen to the sound of the broadcast fade away never to return. Is this how future rural internet will function? Ever disappearing behind a mountain or thrown off by competing signals?

This definitely feels like a Microsoft endeavor with lots of money attached and the promise of a better future. Only to be left with what might turn out to be a sub-par product that millions of people are forced into using because they have no alternative. What will download speeds be like? Will there be opportunities to upgrade or is it one size fits all? I don’t know. But before we label Microsoft as evil and put them in the trash with the rest of our computers from the 20th century, I want to find out.

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