If you have a smartphone (blackberry/droid or iphone) you can either tether it via USB or use it as a mobile hotspot to connect your laptop. You'll need a broadband plan which will add to your basic plan but Verizon lets you add that option during the summer and suspend it in fall (don't know about other carriers).

You can also buy a dedicated mobile hotspot that supports up to 5 WiFi connections on one broadband cell account.

Speed is quite acceptable for web surfing, checking weather radar, email etc. Might be a bit choppy or faltering if you want to watch online videos.