• Internet Service Capabilities
• High-speed Cable Internet
• Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

Internet Service Capabilities

With home internet, you can access email, entertainment, banking, shopping, and research online. In order to access the internet from home, a service provider is needed to connect your personal computer with the servers and computers that make up the Internet. In addition to Internet access, most Internet service providers will also offer email account(s), protection from Spam and email viruses, and personal web space.

Email
An account usually comes with one primary email address plus additional email addresses (number varies by plan) to share with the household. All providers allow customers to access email by:

• A proprietary email client that is installed on your personal computer
• Allowing the email to be downloaded to a email client of the customer's choice (i.e. Outlook express)
• Web based email (varies by provider) that can be accessed by any computer connected to the internet.

Spam and Virus protection
Most providers will assist in the protection of Spam--or unsolicited email--and email viruses--malicious programming code that runs without your knowledge. These types of protection offer you a quality Internet experience in two ways: you won't receive unwanted email, and your computer will be safe from email viruses thanks to your service provider's virus scan.

Personal Web Space
Most providers offer space on their servers for you to have your own web page or upload backups of your data. Create a web page to share pictures with family and friends, post a resume that can be referenced in emails, or post a calendar for an organization -- the possibilities are endless!

High-speed Cable Internet

High-speed Cable Internet accesses the Internet via a cable line, the same line that provides your TV programming signal. Some advantages of High-speed Cable Internet include:

• Speed - HSD is the fastest consumer access available through Allconnect
• Best effort download speed ranges between 3.0M to 15.0M (varies by provider)
• Best effort upload speed ranges between 196k to 3.0M (varies by provider)
• "Always on" connection
• Frees up phone line
• One Bill Convenience (when you purchase a Cable TV & Internet together)
• Discounts on when purchasing more than one product from a Cable provider
• Voice-over-Internet-Protocol technology can be used (Digital phone or Vonage)

High-speed Cable Internet Equipment Requirements:

• Minimum computer operating system requirements are Windows 98 or higher (for PCs) or Mac OS 9.0 or higher (for Macs)
• Cable Modem (Providers often lease this equipment for an additional fee) - the modem is connected to the computer using Ethernet or USB (varies by provider)
• Cables - including but not limited to Standard Coaxial cables

Also, to receive High-speed Cable Internet service you must reside in an area in which the cable provider offers high speed data service (check availability at your address here) and you must have a pre-wired residence or have wiring installed at an additional charge.

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

DSL accesses the Internet through a telephone line. Both voice and data can be transmitted simultaneously, which means you can talk on the phone and access the Internet using ONE phone line. DSL accesses the Internet via the phone line that also supplies your phone service. However, the line is electronically split into frequencies, which can carry internet data and voice signals. Some advantages to DSL include:

• Best effort download speed ranges between 256k to 1.5 M (varies by provider)
• Best effort upload speed ranges between 56k to 256k (varies by provider)
• "Always available" connection
• Frees up phone line
• One Bill Convenience and Bundled Discounts available
• Voice-over-IP can be used with Vonage

DSL Equipment Requirements:
The computer operating system requirements are the same for DSL as for Cable Internet, and rather than using a Cable Modem, a DSL Modem is required to translate data to and from the internet. Like the cable modem, the DSL modem may be sold or leased by the Provider. Additionally, a splitter allows for a telephone to be connected to the same telephone jack as the DSL modem and a DSL micro filter must be installed for each analog (voice) phone device connected to the DSL telephone line, such as: telephone, fax machine, answering machine, etc.

Furthermore, to receive DSL service you must have an active phone line or have one installed that will support DSL (with the exception of Qwest Stand Alone DSL) and be within the DSL Service Area (check availability at your address here).