It wasn't that long ago when citizens with a color television, a touchtone telephone and a CD player were considered "technologically advanced."

How times have changed.

Now cell phones, e-mail, the Internet and satellite television are the least we can get away with to be considered "up to date."

Here in Cashiers, it seems we've got the whole television and phone thing down pat, except for those gaps of cell phone coverage between these pesky mountains.

But it is increasingly apparent that Internet capabilities are sketchy in various places around the valley. You can have high speed Internet service in one place, service through your cable system in another, on-line capabilities through your satellite dish here, simply dial-up service over there, and an occasional spot of wireless service in various patches.

Of course, like those gaps in cell phone coverage, the mountains that we call home are mostly to blame for the inconsistencies in our Internet service. Convincing a service provider to take on the costly task of "wiring Cashiers" is a tough sale.

With the majority of Cashiers' residents being of retirement age, and most of those being part-time residents, it's easy to understand why there's not a huge demand for better Internet service in this area. Most of our residents probably don't consider themselves heavy Internet users. It's simply not part of their generation. A lot of older folks are content with not having the Internet, or they are pleased with simply having dial up to occasionally check e-mails and such.

But over time, the Internet generation is going to grow into the senior citizens living in Cashiers. The clock is ticking and the demand is undoubtably going to grow.

In a few weeks, the Chronicle is going to take an in-depth look at Internet service in the area, focusing on exactly what is available and where it's available. We'll also try to pinpoint where service providers are at with getting better service in Cashiers and how long they think it will be before our capabilities are equal to other areas around us.

We'll talk to young people and old folks alike, seeing what their needs are and just how much they actually use the Internet. And of course, we'll examine the cost of having high speed digital capabilities and if those costs will be inflated due to the major task of getting that service up the mountain.

Between now and then, we'd like to hear from you, our readers. Let us know what you think. We'll try to run comments from you and take suggestions on possible story ideas or angles. We want to find out the answers to your questions and address your needs.

You can send us ideas, comments or suggestions by e-mail at news@crossroadschronicle.com, or call us at (828) 743-5101. You can mail items to us at P.O. Box 1040, Cashiers, N.C., 28717 or fax us at (828) 743-4173.

We may not be in dire need of better service right now, but there's no question that the generations of Cashiers residents to come will certainly demand more options and better quality. Let's get the ball rolling.