Without fast broadband, towns and schools find selves withering

It's the 21st century, and the Information Age has revolutionized business, culture and life -- unless you're any of the 415 people in the East Texas town of Chireno who find themselves off the grid.

About 45 percent of Texas has no access to high-speed Internet service, but most of that land is sparsely populated. Chireno, however, is an incorporated city within a half-hour's drive of three larger ones, and it's still on the outside of the Web looking in. Make no mistake: This is a one stop-light town. It's also a five-business town, with a gas station, a grocery/cafe, air conditioning repair service, an acoustical ceiling tile factory and a chain bank. And, according to residents and government officials, this is as good as it's going to get unless broadband Internet service in made available here.