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How to Choose Best ISP for Your Needs
Well, the Internet access industry is starting to shake its way out. The much-anticipated consolidation of access providers is nearing its end. In broadband, this means that most users have little or no choice of providers. Though many of the changes have been hard on user choice, this is not necessarily a bad thing. In some cases, it's better to have one stable and pricey provider than 100 unstable, cheap providers. The shakeout was painful for scores of users who often were left with no connection when they needed it most. And some providers left standing don't exactly have good track records, either. Still, there is reason for users to be optimistic about the future. The following is an outline of the way the Internet access business should go in the coming year. I provide it to give you a better understanding of where you should go now, assuming you want to stick with the same internet access provider for at least a year. Don't ditch dial-up A lot of users were glad they hung on to their dial-up accounts in the midst of uncertainty with their broadband connections. When things go bad with broadband (as they often do), you at least can get e-mail, if not a quick scan of the headlines in text-heavy Web sites. If you have a dial-up account, and you're paying less than $20 for it, consider it a blessing to have a back-up system. At the very least, when you need to reach tech support for your broadband account and you can't get through due to heavy call volume, you can e-mail them from your dial-up account. Things to look out for in dial-up: Go with a provider that has been around long enough to quickly respond to such issues as software upgrades and peak calling volumes. Read the fine print before signing. Some ISPs will disconnect you after a relatively short amount of time of idleness. Others let you stay online as long as you're actively engaged. Still others never disconnect users. The last is preferable; the middle option usually offers the best value. Check out Boardwatch magazine's ISP Directory to see how much infrastructure you will be paying for. Make sure your chosen ISP has an acceptable ratio of modems to users. Three users for every modem is acceptable, considering that it is unlikely that all their customers will dial up at once. o Match prices with the ratio of modem pools to users. Check out options such as personal Web site services and multiple addresses. These are nice to have and can add value to your experience as long as you use them--provided they're bundled in. DSL doldrums Of all the access methods, DSL has received the most scorn since I've been at this job. My own experiences were horrendous, and I'm not alone. It works great for about 20 percent of the population who are geographically blessed. It works OK for another 30 percent or so of the population, who may have to endure some line noise in order to get DSL. And it doesn't work at all for the other half. Couple its inherent technical limitations with DSL providers falling off the wires like shocked birds, and the situation has not been pretty. Still, those providers that have made it through the shock test should be able to offer a good experience (with the exception of Qwest). Consider DSL carefully and you will avoid a lot of pain. Some DSL issues you should consider: Talk to a neighbor about their DSL experience. Do they have a lot of line noise on the phone even with the filters? Did they have any equipment or network problems with their provider? If so, did they get put on hold and shuffled around through tech support when they called in? Was their DSL provider able to support a variety of platforms, or was it basically Windows-only? Consider an ISP for DSL service. The Baby Bells, such as Qwest and Verizon, are not well equipped to deliver DSL service. Even though smaller ISPs may only resell DSL service from Baby Bell providers, they at least provide a live human being when things go wrong. Because the Baby Bells know the cost of supporting DSL users, they can offer DSL to ISPs much more cheaply than they can offer it directly to users. So you can often get a price break from ISPs, especially if you're willing to accept a slightly slower connection. Mary works in US for a media company, occasionally writing for the biggest cheap internet access news portal, and drinking too much coffee.
MORE RESOURCES: Some Minnesota cities want to impose fees on internet providers; customers could pay the price Star Tribune Federal data may be underestimating how many Coloradans have bad internet, report says The Colorado Sun Industry Voices: Surveys show 5G FWA is clear winner Fierce Wireless Mapped: Internet Download Speeds by Region Visual Capitalist Funds running out to help low-income families get access to internet Arizona's Family 125K West Virginians to lose broadband internet help as federal funding runs out Mountain State Spotlight BLM boosts internet access and reliability for rural and underserved communities Bureau of Land Management Rural broadband Initiative takes center stage in Cross The Post and Courier FCC Imposes $10,000 Fine on ISP for False Broadband Claims BroadbandBreakfast.com CWA and Allies Lobby in CO for Better Broadband Buildout Communications Workers of America Broadband providers are sneaking into the smart home Fierce Telecom Comcast expanding fiber-optic infrastructure, internet service in northern outskirts of Houston area Houston Public Media Elected officials working to change status of poor quality or no access to broadband internet Yahoo! Voices The Best Cable Modem of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter The New York Times Grants could be Michigan's last chance to achieve universal broadband connectivity The Livingston Post.com FreeCast Joins Broadband Forum, Recognizing Broadband's Role in Delivering Next-Gen Entertainment Business Wire $30 per month subsidy for internet access nearing end in Arkansas, U.S. | Arkansas Democrat Gazette Arkansas Online Spectrum expanding Aiken County high-speed internet service | Aiken Area Business The Post and Courier High-speed internet services are on the horizon for Hinckley residents, businesses | Scriptype scriptype.com Broadband access essential rural communities in Indiana. South Bend Tribune Mapping a better future for broadband in Michigan Second Wave Michigan Tillman Fiber pairs with T-Mobile to expand fiber broadband footprint across Florida DatacenterDynamics Walker County receives $30K for community connectivity Walker County, GA Revving Up Broadband Hackster.io Millions of Low-Income Families Set to Lose Internet Subsidies The New York Times CBRS spectrum comes into play with BEAD Fierce Telecom Broadband coming to Huddleston | News pmg-va.com Demographics of Internet and Home Broadband Usage in the United States Pew Research Center Navajo Nation benefits from FWA that can send signals over large distances Broadband Communities Emergency Broadband Benefit Federal Communications Commission Lt Gov Gilchrist Celebrates Biden Administration Paving Way for Enhanced High Speed Internet Access Michigan Courts Choice Broadband and Tarana team up on Navajo tribal FWA Telecompaper EN Governor Ivey Awards $188 Million for 'Middle Mile' Broadband Projects with Impact Across the State - Office of the ... Governor Kay Ivey Governor DeWine, Lt. Governor Husted Announce Support for Citywide Broadband Expansion in Cleveland | Governor ... Governor Mike DeWine Opinion | The story of rural internet, from my farm in Virginia The Washington Post Behind the Numbers: Broadband Access Colorado Health Institute Purdue launches broadband team, effort to increase high-speed internet access, adoption and use throughout Indiana Purdue University Broadband Access Program: A Corporate and Government Piggy Bank Masquerading as an Internet Pipeline for Poor ... Heritage.org Two Dakota tribes partner on broadband initiative Rapid City Journal Upcountry Fiber receives federal grant | Pickens County Courier Governor Ivey Holds Fifth Stop on Statewide Broadband Tour to Discuss High-Speed Internet Expansion in DeKalb ... Governor Kay Ivey Whitmer Announces Over 70k Unserved Michigan Homes Businesses to Connect to High Speed Internet Michigan Courts What's New in Digital Equity: FCC Updates Broadband Benchmark Government Technology New bill could solve broadband internet crisis in Arkansas THV11.com KTHV Americans' Use of Mobile Technology, Home Broadband Pew Research Center Every state is about to dole out federal funding for broadband internet – not every state is ready for the task The Conversation Indonesia Hub66 partners with Bristol and Hebron to provide broadband internet - New Hampshire Business Review Hub66 partners with Bristol and Hebron to provide broadband internet New Hampshire Business Review Governor Ivey Announces New Statewide Brand for High-Speed Internet Expansion, Details Upcoming Programs to ... Governor Kay Ivey unWired Broadband to bring NextGen Fiber Internet to Coalinga, CA Chronicle-Tribune |
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