Final answer:
The 'last mile' problem refers to the difficulty in connecting the final segment of a telecommunications network to the user's location, posing challenges for those in rural or infrastructurally underdeveloped areas and contributing to the existence of digital deserts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The problem of the last mile as it relates to telecommunications media is (c) The difficulty in connecting the last segment of the network to the user's location. This challenge is significant because it involves the final portion of the telecommunications network that delivers services to end-users. The last mile can be particularly complex and expensive to implement in rural areas or in cases where infrastructural development is lacking. Advanced technological solutions such as fiber optics, satellite, and wireless transmission have been utilized to address the last mile problem, with varying degrees of success.
One challenge posed by the incorporation of technology in multimodal composition is addressing digital deserts. These are areas affected by a digital divide where high-speed internet connections are scarce. In 2017, over 21 million Americans lacked access to high-speed internet, with rural and low-income urban communities being disproportionately affected. The last mile problem exacerbates this issue by making it difficult to connect these underserved areas to robust digital networks.