“I have been an Affinity4 long distance subscriber for years. I appreciate what you are doing by helping others. God bless you all.”

Cindy K.
Which high-speed Internet service is best for you?
Once you determine you're going to get a high-speed connection to the Internet, the choices are more than a little overwhelming. Your decision to leave dial-up was straightforward, but now you've unearthed a treasure trove of speeds, deals and incentives. Here is how to evaluate which service is best for you.
First, understand there are really three different types of services you'll be investigating: providers of high-speed Internet include companies that provide satellite, phone (in the form of Digital Subscriber Line or DSL) and cable services. Second, realize that some of the information overload here results from the fact that just because you have cable TV doesn't mean you have to go with the cable company's high-speed Internet offerings; likewise, many phone companies also offer various options. You can generally mix and match. However, if you have cable television, you won't be selecting satellite service, and vice versa. But you could select the phone company's service regardless of your television setup. Third, and finally, know your budget and get a grasp of what each service includes. Remember, too, price isn't the only factor.
Overall, there are a number of factors to consider when purchasing a high-speed Internet provider, including:
1. Availability. In many markets, there are still limited offerings. You may not have much of a choice depending on where you live.
2. Buy what you need. Go into this decision knowing what you need - don't settle for less but don't buy what you do not need. Few people actually need the top speeds offered, but do note both download and upload speeds. If you're a shutterbug you'll need and want faster upload times.
Summary Chart of Features
Dial-up Cable DSL FIOS Satellite
Typical upload speeds (kbps) 20-50 3,000 – 30,000 768 – 3,000 3,000 -71,000 100 - 256
Typical download speeds (kbps) 20-50 3,000 – 30,000 768 – 3,000 3,000 - 71,000 512 - 1500
Shared connection? No Yes No No No
Typical monthly costs $25 $40 $30 $60 $60
Advantages Inexpensive
Easy to use		 Fastest service Modems include security features Faster than cable Available almost anywhere
Disadvantages Slow Can't easily share phone line Modems aren't very secure
Shared bandwidth		 Slower than cable Speed varies according to home location Expensive Limited availability Weather can interrupt service
Bulk downloads are limited
Higher latency not good for digital voice or gaming
Satellite Connections
Certain sparsely populated areas of the country have limited choices for Internet connection. Some remote locales have no cable television because it's far too costly to run cable. So, the choice for high-speed Internet in those areas is between the phone company and the satellite provider(s). DSL, too, is not available everywhere. Ironically, many areas that are mountainous only offer satellite because they are so remote and sparsely populated, although mountains can block your signal if the receiver (dish) is not correctly positioned. In areas that do offer cable, some people choose satellite TV mainly for the diversity of programming (you can just about watch anything at any time). When there is a choice, however, bear in mind that satellite connections are affected by cloud cover, weather and geography.
DSL (and Fiber Optic Cable)
There are two different high-speed Internet technologies, called DSL and fiber optic service or FIOS. You can get a DSL hookup for about what you pay for dial-up service. The good thing about DSL is that you can install it anywhere in your home where you have a phone jack.
However, because DSL runs along phone lines (though it does not interfere with your making phone calls, as dial-up does), it is slower than cable. The FIOS service, if available, is the faster of the two phone offerings, but it is also more expensive.
Cable
Cable companies seemingly invented the triple-play concept. Prices vary widely from area to area. Frequently promotional rates start as low as the $19.99 per month, but those increase -- often doubling--after the introductory period ends. Be sure to understand how long your contract is and for how long the promotion is in effect. Also, some rates are for new customers only; if you have cable TV with the company already you may not be considered "new." Further, you may have to agree to install the cable modem yourself for the low rate. Like the phone companies, email and storage are provided with the service; in general, they are simply benefits of joining and are unlikely to make or break a deal.
Theoretically, cable is faster than DSL. "Theoretically" faster because cable slows down when many people in a neighborhood are online at once; DSL offers consistency.