What Is AT&T DSL Basic?

by Andrea Askins, Demand Media

AT&T;'s basic DSL plan is perfect for individuals who mainly want to surf the web and check email.

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AT&T; offers four tiers of service as part of its FastAccess DSL Direct plans. These plans range from 10 to 100 times faster than dial-up service, include free nationwide Wi-Fi access for when users are away from home and offer AT&T;'s Internet Security Suite for an additional monthly fee. Considered AT&T;'s basic DSL plan, FastAccess DSL Direct 768K allows subscribers to download at speeds up to 768 kilobytes per second.

Speed

The most obvious feature that sets the basic plan apart is that it offers an upstream speed of up to 128 Kbps and a downstream speed of up to 768 Kbps. Upstream speed refers to the speed at which you can upload data to the Internet; downstream speed is the speed at which you can download data. While users are capable of downloading all forms of media under this plan, AT&T; recommends this plan for individuals interested in only downloading small files, checking email and general web surfing.

Benefits

As with all DSL plans, the FastAccess DSL Direct 768K plan includes AT each email account allows a box size of 500 MB. Additionally, subscribers can create their own personal webpage under the 768K plan.

Requirements

The 768K plan is available to owners of both PCs and Macs that have an available Ethernet port and a CD-ROM drive. AT&T; recommends computers have at least 1GB of memory so that users can receive faster Internet speeds. AT&T; offers a self-installation kit at no extra charge so that individuals can install their service on their own.

Available Options

AT&T; offers a wireless gateway for purchase that allows customers to connect multiple computers to a single DSL connection. Additionally, if customers do not own their own DSL modem, they can buy one directly through AT&T.; FastAccess DSL Direct 768K customers are also able to sign up for AT&T; Support Plus for a monthly service fee. Through AT&T; Support Plus, customers are able to contact a help desk that offers help on a variety of topics, ranging from setting up new software, removing viruses and repairing problems with printers, scanners, digital cameras or MP3 players.

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References

  • AT&T;: FastAccess DSL Direct 768K -- DSL Plan Details
  • AT&T;: Compare AT&T; FastAccess DSL High Speed Internet Plans
  • AT&T;: AT&T; Wi-Fi Basic
  • AT&T; ConnectTech: AT&T; Support Plus

About the Author

Andrea Askins began her writing career in 2003. She has written for country music entertainment website CountryHound, "Kentucky Families Today" and several campus newspapers. Askins received the Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Award in 2008. She received a Bachelor of Arts in news/editorial journalism from Western Kentucky University.

Photo Credits

  • John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images