the Cost of DSL Internet Access

DSL, 125 MBps. Relatively quick download capabilities with few full outages. However, it does run slow at times, especially if there is severe weather.

The DSL service is part of the regular phone bill, but the DSL itself is $39.95 per month.

After suffering with painfully slow dial up for years, news that DSL would now be available in this area was very exciting. Originally, it was advertised at a higher rate, but by the time it was available here, the price had decreased.

Working online and using the internet much of the day made the speed and convenience well worth the cost. The introductory package also subtracted $5 per month from the bill for the first three months.

While the speed does go down in bad weather, it's much better than the frequent outages we used to experience with the dial up service.

The help line will usually inform us if there is a problem in the area, so we don't have to sit on the phone waiting to speak to tech support to learn what's wrong. The biggest complaint is the long wait to speak to someone if tech support is needed.

When seeking tech support, first ask if there is a problem in the area, just in case it wasn't announced. Often times, they'll want you to change your settings, and there may be no need to do so if it's a temporary problem on their end.

As with phone bills, it's good to inquire occasionally to see if there are any discounted plans. In some cases, if you pay for a year of service in advance you may be able to get a discounted rate.