Kicking and screaming into the 21st Century

There is a wonderful little gem of a town called Stehekin on the shore of Lake Chelan. The only options for reaching it are the ferry boat or a hike. From WSB-TV:

Remote Wash. Community To Get Phone Service
One of the most remote communities in the lower 48 states is finally set to get phone service.

The National Park Service is allowing a small telephone company to use public land to bring service to Stehekin, about 100 miles northeast of Seattle in the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.

Stehekin has about 80 year-round residents and is reachable only by boat, float plane or a several-day hike through the wilderness.

The phone company, WeavTel, has been pursuing a chance to install telephone service there for years, despite opposition from some residents who don't want it. A few residents own satellite phones.

When someone makes the conscious decision to move that far out of touch, bringing them closer to civilization is not something that appeals to them. As the article said, there are some satellite phones so in the event of a medical emergency, a float plane can come out. Stehekin is a gem and it is a shame that they are trying to 'modernize' it...