Choosing an Internet Service Provider (ISP)

For Baltimore, MD area teachers

Choosing an Internet Service Provider (ISP) is very tricky! I'm aware of a number of amazingly inexpensive ISP deals that include space for Web pages, etc. e.g.:

Some of these too good to be true deals are often just that - they may be good for the first few months, but they don't charge enough to reinvest sufficient funds into their system to accommodate growth. Then, you get BUSY signals, insufficient disk space, no backup equipment on hand (results in long down times), etc. Ask users of the service your considering to find out their track record.

Users of BCPL (only $75/year residents, $100/year nonresidents, including 5 MB of web space!) and Erols ($9.50/mo) report that they're satisfied with these ISPs.

You may wish to consider using a well established, but more expensive, service, e.g.:

PSInet (http://www.psi.net)

Also, AT&T (WorldNet Services) and MCI are entering the ISP market, but it's too early to tell what their service will be like. According to surveys quoted in the NYT, almost half of the on-line folks are dissatisfied with their ISP and the number one complaint is busy signals. AT&T is going after this big problem and their aggressive pricing and ubiquitous service ability has many ISPs quaking in their boots! You can read all about it in The New York Times, CyberTimes (28 Feb 96) section:

http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/0228provider.html

(I assume it's also in the Feb 28 hard copy edition of NYT.) You might also want to read AT&T's press release:

http://www.att.com/press/0296/960227.bsa.html

Because AT&T's Mac service was delayed for software reasons, it appears that, they're offering an integrated package (which might use SLIP/PPP). This makes setup easy, but might restrict what clients you can use - we don't need another AOL! For free WorldNet software (floppy or CD and Win 3.1, Win 95, or Mac System 7.1 or higher), call 800-WORLDNET, extension 55510.

I want more bits and I want them now!

Bell Atlantic offers residential Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) service. BRI ISDN supports 2 "B" channels of voice and/or 64 kbps "modem" service. If you're considing dual phone lines, this may be a good option (especially if your ISP offers ISDN connections and if BA is still offering free installation and selling the NT and TA at cost). Information about additional telephone lines, home voice mail, BA's own ISP service, and ISDN are available under BA's Residential Service page. Despite their claims, if you're running one "B" channel for voice and the other for data, your connection will be about twice as fast as a 33.6 kbps modem connection.

An option on the horizon is Cable Modem service from your Cable TV provider. Cable modems can download data 100 times faster than conventional telephone line modems. Howard County's COMCAST plans to offer Cable modem service in early 1997. You can visit visit COMCAST's low-band Internet site for the Baltimore area, Comcast Online's corporate site, their cable modem site, and especially their cable modem FAQ for additional information.

Another option on the horizon is asymmetric digital subscriber loop (ADSL) service to be offered over telephone lines. ADSL modems operate at about the same speed as Cable modems (1-6 Mbps download). Check with Bell Atlantic for information.

Searching for ISPs

The most complete listing of ISPs (including costs and services) I know of is:

thelist (http://thelist.com)

However, "thelist" is far from complete and may be biased (they offer Internet service).

You might also want to check the ISP advertisements in the local newspaper called Computer User. It's free at many stores (e.g., between the front doors of Borders Books & Music, Snowden River Pky, Columbia).

Perhaps the best deal of all is the *free accounts* available to teachers in Maryland (see http://www.inform.umd.edu:8080/mdk-12/admin for an application and http://www.inform.umd.edu/mdk-12/help/noslippp).

Read c|net's article ISP update: CNET readers rate more than 400 ISPs.

Books about ISPs

The best book on this subject I'm aware of is:

Estrada, Susan. Connecting to the Internet (An O'Reilly Buyer's Guide). O'Reilly & Assoc (800 998-9938), ISBN: 1-56592-061-9, $15.95, 1993.

This book has a good guide for a cost comparison chart and a good list of questions to ask potential ISPs. I've borrowed from and modernized Ms. Estrada's list (p. 65-66):

Dial-up Checklist (ask customers for honest answers!)

SLIP or PPP Accounts

WWW Publishing

Joe Campbell
Speaking for myself
Revised 1 April 1997.