May 30, 2008 | by Ben Hardy The World Wide Web is the place to be, and the options for getting there have never been greater. We’ve investigated the deals, the speeds, and the availability to help consumers choose a high-speed bandwagon to jump on.

Comparison Points
When placing an internet service provider under the microscope, we’re looking for a few things, including price, speed, and availability. Today’s ISPs are giving consumers a wide range of choices regarding the first two categories. It is not uncommon to see two or three “packages” to choose from, with the more expensive options bringing faster upstream and downstream speeds.

We’d all love fiber optic run to our premises, but let’s face it: currently only a select few in our country have access, so availability is a crucial comparison point when stacking providers up against one another. You might have the fastest speeds, but what do I care if I can’t get it?

Providers are keen to get the edge on one another, so extras like multiple email addresses/mailboxes and large mailbox storage are considered as well. Teaming up with a security software provider (e.g. McAfee) is another growing commonality among internet service providers.

Dial-up
It’s hard to believe that as we approach the second decade in the new millennium there are still those for whom dial-up is the best – or only – option. Still, if checking email occasionally is one’s only need, the 56K or 128K connection will suffice. Here’s a few better-known dial-up ISPs, with and their respective offerings and rates.

Package Name	Cost per Month	Speed	Addresses / Storage	Extras	Availability
Basic ISP	$6.95, unlimited	56K		U.S.-based customer service, 24/7 online support	50 States and Canada
Basic ISP HiSpeed Accelerated	$9.95, unlimited	56K, 7x faster using compression software	5	U.S.-based customer service, 24/7 online support	50 States and Canada
Copper Internet	$9.95, unlimited	56K	5	U.S.-based customer service, 24/7 online support	25,000 access numbers in US and Canada
Copper HiSpeed	$14.95, unlimited	56K, 6x faster using compression software	5	U.S.-based customer service, 24/7 online support	25,000 access numbers in US and Canada
NetZero	$4.97 (first 3 months), then $9.95, unlimited	56K	1GB	Spam protection, free “mysite” website	50 States
NetZero HiSpeed 3G	$14.95	56K	2GB	Norton Antivirus, pop-up blocker	50 States
EarthLink	$9.95 (first 3 months), then $21.95, unlimited	56K	8	10MB of webspace	50 States

Cable Broadband
As with any deal, it’s good to read the cable company’s fine print. For example, Comcast’s website advertises rates applicable only to existing customers (i.e. those currently subscribing to either digital voice or cable services). The table below lists rates for internet only followed by the rate if coupled with some other service. To cover rates for all the permutations (those with Comcast video but no internet, those with Comcast voice but no internet, those who have no subscription with Comcast, etc.) we’d need a much bigger table.

Package Name	Cost per Month	Speed Down / Up	Addresses / Storage	Extras	Availability
Comcast High-Speed Internet Basic	$39.95 / $24.95	786 Kbps / 382 Kbps	7	Free McAfee Security	Roughly 25 states
Comcast Performance High-Speed Internet	$59.95 / $52.95	6.0 Mbps / 348 Kbps	7, and 175MB online file storage	Free McAfee Security, free streaming audio through Rhapsody	Roughly 25 states
Comcast Performance PLUS High-Speed Internet	$67.95 / $52.95	8.0 Mbps / 768 Kbps	7, and 175MB online file storage	Free McAfee Security, free streaming audio through Rhapsody	Roughly 25 states
Charter HSI	$54.95 / $44.95	5 Mbps / 512 Kbps	10, 1G storage limit per box	F-Secure Security, Parental control, 20MB personal webpage
Charter HSI Plus	$59.95 / $49.95	10 Mbps / 1 Mbps	10, 1G storage limit per box	F-Secure Security, Parental control, 20MB personal webpage
Charter HSI Max	$79.95 / $69.95	16 Mbps / 2 Mbps	10, 1G storage limit per box	Protection, 24/7 free technical support, no modem fees
Time Warner Road Runner Basic	$29.95	1.5 Mbps / 384 Kbps	3	Protection, 24/7 free technical support, no modem fees	31 States
Time Warner Road Runner Standard	$44.95	10 Mbps / 1 Mbps	10	Protection, 24/7 free technical support, no modem fees	31 States
Time Warner Road Runner Turbo	$59.90 (Currently on a $39.90 1-year promotion)	15 Mbps / 2 Mbps	25	Protection, 24/7 free technical support, no modem fees	31 States
Cox Economy	$16.99	768 Kbps	7	McAfee Security, 70MB of personal WebSpace	15 States
Cox Value	$26.99	1.5 Mbps	7	McAfee Security, 70MB of personal WebSpace	15 States
Cox Preferred	$41.99 (currently on a $25.95 6-month promotion)	10 Mbps / 2 Mbps	7	McAfee Security, 70MB of personal WebSpace	15 States
Cox Premier	$51.99 (currently on a $39.95 6-month promotion)	20 Mbps / 2 Mbps	7	McAfee Security, 70MB of personal WebSpace	15 States

DSL
Speed-wise, DSL sits somewhere between fast dial-up and cable broadband. The cost for DSL service is usually a little cheaper than cable as well, though companies will offer promotional rates and waived fees from time-to time, just as with any other service.

Package Name	Cost per Month	Speed Down / Up	Addresses / Storage	Extras	Availability
Verizon High- Speed Internet Starter	$19.99 (first month free)	768 Kbps / 128 Kbps	9	10 MB for personal web page, 24/7 live technical support	25 states
Verizon High- Speed Internet Power	$29.99 (first month free)	3.0 Mbps / 368 Kbps	9	10 MB for personal web page, 24/7 live technical support	25 states
Verizon High- Speed Internet 7.0 Mbps DSL	$39.99	7.0 Mbps	9, 4GB storage	Verizon Internet Security Suite	12 States
AT&T Basic DSL	$19.95	768 Kbps/ 384 Kbps	11	All-in-one Protection Suite, Webbased email
AT&T Express DSL	$25.00	1.5 Mbps / 384 Kbps	11	All-in-one Protection Suite, Webbased email
AT&T Pro DSL	$30.00	3.0 Mbps / 512 Kbps	11	All-in-one Protection Suite, Webbased email
AT&T Elite DSL	$35.00	6.0 Mbps / 768 Kbps	11	All-in-one Protection Suite, Webbased email