Days Creek Charter School in southern Oregon's logging country has it all—almost. Two computer labs, a slew of laptops, and a fast fiber-optic network. What it doesn't have, says Laurie Newton, superintendent, is enough high-speed Internet service. Downloads take ages; the system crashes; students taking state tests online, as is required, cripple the network.

The school has budgeted for more T1 lines, but the data pipeline through town is at capacity and the local utility hasn't expanded it. "It's frustrating for everyone because we are probably one of the most computerized schools in the state," Newton says. "We're ready for the future, but it's having a hard time reaching us."

Too exclusive, too expensive. Those without high-speed, or broadband, access are at a disadvantage, shut off from valuable multimedia tools. High-speed Internet will soon be essential for education, health care, and information. And in this down economy, a fast connection is even more critical for job searches, distance learning, and home businesses.

Read the rest of this Viewpoint report from the November 2009 Consumer Reports.

What has your child's experience been like with the Internet in the classroom? Tell us in comments.