Word: modalen
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...west coast of Norway, I'm pretty sure I've arrived at the end of the world. The single-lane blacktop hugs a fjord with towering cliffs on each side; the only other access is by boat. Nestled at the end of the fjord is the small town of Modalen. Population: 350. Aside from its spectacular setting, the sleepy community has two main attractions: hydroelectric power and sand - lots and lots of sand...
This, to say the least, is an economic backwater. But Modalen is no longer feeling isolated. Since the beginning of the year, everyone in town - in homes, businesses and schools - has been linked to the Internet with a broadband connection. Overnight, this Norwegian outpost has become part of the worldwide Digital Village. "I was looking for a town in the middle of nowhere to serve as a pilot for broadband testing," says Jostein Eck, marketing manager for the Norwegian telecommunications firm Nera, as he gestures toward the snow-capped cliffs. "We see it as a model for communities outside urban...