| When I first starting considering an Internet | | | | should not be surprised they don't offer much in |
| provider, I figured why not go with the cable | | | | the way of Television either. |
| company. Cable companies can offer the fastest | | | | I began looking into Wireless Broadband suppliers, |
| speed, usually at a good price to start, and then | | | | this sounded like it may work for me, but I |
| they will go up after a promotional period. So I | | | | quickly found out that even with 3G networks, |
| called the local cable company and to my surprise | | | | they are only as good as the cell phone signal |
| (since they advertise it as being available in my | | | | your receiving. Not to mention the limitation on |
| area) I was told by the sales rep that the high | | | | the amount you can download is very low, and |
| speed Internet was not available to me. | | | | the cost if you go over was a bit too expensive. |
| As much as I am attempting to not date myself, | | | | I began to look at the only other option available |
| the Internet was not around until I was out of | | | | to me, Satellite Internet. The two companies that |
| high school, well out of high school. Back then if | | | | I checked out were WildBlue and HughesNet. |
| you needed to find something out, you went to | | | | They deliver in the same method, but with |
| the library. If you needed to call someone, you | | | | different technology. They both have a Fair |
| picked up the phone and hoped for the best. | | | | Access Policy (download threshold) limitation, |
| Today, the Internet spoils us, well most of us | | | | however Wild Blue spreads theirs over 30-days |
| with high speed anyway. Everything is available at | | | | so it is less likely to affect their customers, then |
| the touch of a button, or click of a mouse. Unless | | | | the daily limit HughesNet offers. There were |
| of course you, are in one of those lost in time | | | | some upfront costs for activation, but a standard |
| areas referred to as rural America. | | | | installation was free. Standard install entails |
| Those of us who live, or have moved to an area | | | | mounting the dish to my home. Pole mounts were |
| designated as rural are pretty much living back in | | | | a custom charge because of the work that would |
| the days of no Internet. The speeds we have | | | | need to be done, mostly the trenching of the lines |
| access to are dial up, and by the time we receive | | | | back to my home. When they explained the pole |
| the information we are looking for, we probably | | | | mount installation to me, I could understand why |
| would have been better served driving to our | | | | there would be an extra charge as the guidelines |
| local libraries. | | | | that Satellite companies set for their installers to |
| It is enough to make me want to throw the | | | | warranty the installation are extremely strict. |
| computer out the window, or reenact the scene | | | | Anyway, the system was installed and before the |
| from the movie office space when they beat the | | | | tech left I had Internet service. Compared to my |
| copier with a baseball bat because it constantly | | | | dialup, the speed is amazing and fun. |
| tells them there is a paper jam, only on my | | | | I can now surf the Internet without having to |
| computer. However, using better judgment, I | | | | wander away from my computer so I don't |
| began searching for possible High-speed providers | | | | smash it. The information once again is accessible |
| in my area. The local phone company would not | | | | in a much faster manner. My computer does not |
| continue the lines another two miles to my house | | | | Time Out when I am downloading, files, pictures, |
| so they would only offer me dial up. The local | | | | music, or web sites. The 7.5 gigabytes of |
| cable company did not offer high speed, I guess I | | | | download threshold has not been a factor. |