Part of the problem that we face in Canada is that all most of the data is in the hands of the phone companies. We've had good luck with this. Flattery will get you everywhere. It takes time and requires resources.
People listen to and trust their peers.
If you can get trusted leaders of organizations to work to inform their membership base, then you can avoid the problem of outsiders trying to tell rural people what to do and how things work. Good luck with your work, and please post a copy of your report to this list.