Never experienced New Mexico but it sounds rough. We at least had college radio and even an "alternative" station which at the time meant Pearl Jam and Nirvana and if we were lucky some Fugazi.
Shit. We partied when we got Z-rock. Of course, we also partied when we got a Subway, because that meant we had a KFC and a McDonald's and a Subway. It was almost, but not quite, as cool as when we got a Domino's in 6th grade. Pizza... that comes to you! can you imagine?
You could enjoy your za while listening to Mandatory Metallica! I grew up in a relatively small town too. When we got a new stop light it was a big deal. Getting a Taco Bell was a huge deal. I drove through countless towns like that today (7 hours in the car) and it got me thinking about how I'd fare if I had to live like that now? I can't imagine living in a town with only two restaurants, both of which attached to a gas station. But there are a TON of towns like that out there. Difference is, the kids in those towns have the internet now, we didn't.
Depending on the town, the Internet might not be that great. People in my father's home town still have to use dialup. There isn't much of the Internet that's actually usable on dialup anymore. When I went to my grandmother's funeral a few years ago I ended up having to tether to a cellphone to deal with a work emergency. We really need better rural service.
Africa is where the most exciting things with cell phones are happening.
tether and stolen hotspots is all I have. until they invent stretchy fiber that is. some times I can see that I have email but not have enough bandwidth to answer it. to tell you the truth it keeps on coding rather than surfing.