Darwin, Calif., left behind in evolution of the Internet

Its few residents love the remoteness of the place — except when it comes to the lack of broadband. Even an $80-million plan to extend high-speed Internet to underserved areas will leave them high and dry.

Here on the shoulder of the information superhighway, smartphones turn stupid, streaming videos shrink to a trickle and a simple download drags like a flat tire.

coastal computer finding water underground pond dredging equipment