One rural farmer found out exactly how much it would cost for his local Internet service provider to extend their network outside of the service area, and it was a pretty scary number. To be exact, Windstream Communications was going to charge Nelson Schneider $383,500 to give him fiber internet service.

Getting an ISP to extend their network can cost upwards of tens of thousands of dollars, but what drove the price tag up in this situation was construction costs. After getting the first estimate, Nelson Schneider, CTO of the Norman R. Schneider Family Trust Farm in Ceresco, Nebraska, went looking for other options. He found another company, Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company, willing to do the same work for $41,915.88, even though he's farther outside their area.

Almost $42,000 isn't cheap, but it's a more reasonable offer and it's a one-time investment that Schneider says will increase the quality of life on the farm after living with extremely slow Internet.

You might be questioning why there is such a huge discrepancy between the two prices – Windstream's price is about nine times as expensive as NNTC's. Unfortunately you, along with the rest of us, will have to keep wondering. According to Ars Technica, Windstream confirmed the price, although they wouldn't explain how it added up, and said "the total quoted was for 36 months of dedicated Internet service."

That doesn't exactly clear up the confusion, but at least Schneider, unlike others in rural areas, had other options to consider and didn't get stuck with the huge bill.