CAROLINE COUNTY has long suffered from connectivity problems. It's been the price to be paid for living away from sprawl. It was a tradeoff--one kind of quality of life for another.

The need to accept spotty cellphone service and sluggish mobile downloads in return for a relaxed rural lifestyle seems to be beginning to end.

On Thursday, Verizon Wireless extended its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) service to Caroline and activated a cluster of new sites there and in Spotsylvania County.

A Verizon Wireless spokeswoman said this should improve service to the area bordering Interstate 95 and State Route 2 and U.S. Route 301 "and other rural roads."

Residents there may see an increase in the number of bars and experience fewer dropped calls.

High-speed 4G service is now available in Bowling Green, Ruther Glen and Fort A.P. Hill to people who may have already had 4G devices but only had the full experience when visiting bigger cities. The expansion should bring much faster mobile phone downloads and an increased ability to stream video and music on the go.

Mike Malorana, regional president for Verizon Wireless, said in a statement that 4G LTE service means Caroline residents in those areas will see the difference "at home or work when they stream video, share music and photos, download files and surf the Web with speeds up to 10 times faster than before."

This could ease frustration some in Caroline have been feeling. Let us know what kind of results you're seeing. Pinocchio, do you feel like a real boy now?

Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network added 33 markets this week and now reaches a total of 337.

Apple's next iPhone, expected to be launched this fall, will almost certainly be its first 4G model. And Verizon's push could help it with consumers--including those in rural areas now--who've been waiting for the iPhone 5.

Pinocchio might ask Geppetto for one. And Geppetto might say, "Get a job, son."

Michael Zitz: 540/846-5163
Email: mikez@freelancestar.com