Internet Options in the Home

Some of the cable companies offering high-speed Internet are: • Comcast • Time Warner • Charter • Cox • Mediacom The Alliance for Public Technology promotes wider availability of broadband Internet in the U.S. Satellite The advent of satellite Internet service meant rural homeowners living in areas not serviced by DSL or cable broadband Internet providers wouldn’t be dependent solely on dial-up for Internet access. Satellite Internet service requires a satellite dish receiver, which is installed outside or on the home. Typically, satellite Internet service comes with an installation and/or equipment fee, though consumer might find temporary deals waiving one or both. Faster than dial-up Internet, satellite Internet service is still generally slower than cable, and a tad bit slower than DSL, depending on the service plan. Typical satellite Internet download speeds range between 512 Kbps to 1.5 Mbps, with asymmetrically slower upload speeds. The accessibility gained through satellite Internet comes at a cost--$50 to $80 per month fees are common for this kind of service. Here are some satellite Internet providers: • WildBlue • HughesNet • SkyWay USA Fiber A lot of media and consumer attention has been given to recently available fiber optic Internet service providers, most notably Verizon’s FiOS service. Fiber optic technology boasts a few advantages over its copper counterparts, such as greater bandwidth and reliability. Although many cable companies utilize a hybrid copper/fiber technology for their cable runs, these runs terminate at a “node,” and the final connection from each node to individual homes is done over copper. Verizon’s “fiber-to-the-premises” (also called “fiber-to-the-home” or “FTTH”) initiative brings fiber optic cable directly to the customer’s home, which promises faster Internet speeds. Verizon’s FiOS market is still smaller than the reach that cable or DSL has, but popularity among those with FiOS availability suggests that expansion to their roll-out program is inevitable. Other telecommunications companies are following suit. Qwest and AT&T have deployed fiber runs, although both programs fail to bring fiber over the “last mile,” to the subscriber’s house. Rather, both groups end their fiber runs at the node (also called “fiber-to-the-node,” or “FTTN”). It’s an important distinction to make, as Internet speeds for a FTTH infrastructure will vary with those of a FTTN situation. FTTH services offered by Verizon FiOS bring download speeds from 5 Mbps to 30 Mbps, with some markets claiming as much as 50 Mbps in download speeds. This service comes at a cost, however, and FiOS customers can expect to pay from about $40 per month for a basic Internet service to as much as $140 per month for the fastest plan. Some fiber optic Internet providers include: • Verizon FiOS • Qwest (Note, this is a fiber-to-the-node service.) Wireless Internet For homeowners frequently on the go, subscribing to a wireless or “mobile Internet” plan can be a smart move. Mobile Internet service comes by way of cellular technology—users access the Internet via cellular providers’ towers, which transmit data to a compatible hardware device that commonly attaches to the users’ laptop or desktop computer. Some laptops and computers are built with integrated technology to permit access to select providers’ wireless broadband service.

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