| Many of us have tried countless types of internet | | | | wrongly call themselves broadband when their |
| providers over the years. The latest and best | | | | speeds are not comparable to the FCC's definition |
| services have caught our attention and have kept | | | | at 768 kilobits per second. Standard DSL lines can |
| us as customers, due to our need to get online | | | | be as slow as 384 kilobits per second, and are |
| either for business or for leisure, and even for | | | | definitely not considered broadband, but you can |
| accessing school work. Information gets around | | | | also find DSL services at 6 megabytes per |
| fast, and broadband has become a hot topic, but | | | | second which are much faster, so be sure to |
| how to separate fact from fiction is a different | | | | check the consistent speed of your DSL line and |
| story. | | | | change it based on your need. |
| It is decision time and the Top 5 Facts would | | | | 3. You could probably find that same service |
| really help you get off the fence, so here are | | | | cheaper. Shop around for your broadband internet |
| some "must know" facts. | | | | service before you settle on one because of |
| | | | price. You may find a higher speed that gives you |
| 1. The popular title of "broadband" has become an | | | | a better quality of service for a comparable price |
| umbrella term for internet service providers. While | | | | or a service that doesn't charge you any taxes |
| the speed of downloads and uploads has grown | | | | or additional fees. |
| dramatically, this term is intended to mean that | | | | 4. Be sure the service you choose actually meets |
| online services that exceed 768 kilobits per | | | | your needs. A person who needs online access |
| second are considered broadband...This means | | | | primarily for uploading and downloading documents |
| that one of your slowest DSL lines could use this | | | | for school has different download and upload |
| term if it is anywhere above 768 kilobits per | | | | speed requirements than a person who uses the |
| second and it could be true by technicality. You will | | | | internet for playing video games. All online |
| need to ask your ISP about the speed of your | | | | connection needs are not the same, so be sure |
| service to be sure you are maximizing on the | | | | to express your needs to your provider. |
| speeds you thought you were getting. Don't be | | | | 5. How frequently do you actually use the |
| afraid to ask questions about the service you are | | | | internet? Maybe you don't need a service that |
| getting, it could save you money in the long run, | | | | has all the bells and whistles, but you could use |
| and you will be happy that you did. | | | | something that is manageable and you don't mind |
| 2. All DSL internet connections are not the same. | | | | your service being a bit slow. |
| There are plenty of DSL connections that will | | | | |