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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1






                                December 7, 1999


Internet America, Inc.
One Dallas Centre
350 N. St. Paul, Suite 3000
Dallas, Texas  75201

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Internet America, Inc.

Gentlemen:


         We are acting as counsel for Internet America, Inc., a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the offering and sale of up
to 400,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"Shares") which Shares are issuable upon the exercise of options granted
pursuant to the Internet America, Inc. 1998 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan, as
amended (the "Plan"), which Plan is filed as an exhibit to a Registration
Statement on Form S-8 covering the offering and sale of the Shares (the
"Registration Statement") that is expected to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on or about the date hereof.


         In reaching the conclusions expressed in this opinion, we have examined
and relied upon the originals or certified copies of all documents, certificates
and instruments as we have deemed necessary to the opinions expressed herein,
including the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and the Bylaws of the
Company and a copy of the Plan. In making the foregoing examinations, we have
assumed the genuineness of all signatures on original documents, the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to
original documents of all copies submitted to us.

         Based solely upon the foregoing, subject to the comments hereinafter
stated, and limited in all respects to the laws of the State of Texas and the
federal laws of the United States of America, it is our opinion that the Shares
have been duly authorized, and when issued and delivered, against receipt by the
Company of the agreed consideration therefore, will be validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.

         We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we come
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

                                            Very truly yours,


                                            /s/ Jackson Walker L.L.P.