Options for Home Internet Providers

Cable Internet is among the most popular and fastest home Internet services available. This service uses a standard television cable to transmit data up to 30 megabytes per second. Comcast is the nation's largest cable Internet provider, but there are also services available by companies such as Optimum Online. As of 2011, Comcast offered a basic home Internet service for $29.99 per month. Optimum Online offered a similar package for $49.95 per month.

DSL Internet is provided though standard phone lines. All it takes to install a DSL modem is to plug a DSL line filter into an existing phone jack, followed by the modem itself. DSL service is generally not as fast as cable Internet, with speeds that average about 14 megabytes per second. Several national companies offer home DSL service, including AT&T;, Cox Business, Qwest and DirectTV. Standard monthly DSL service from Qwest, for example, costs $14.95 per month in June 2011.

Satellite Internet is a great option for people who live in rural areas that are not supported by cable or DSL Internet. Satellite Internet is delivered completely wirelessly using a standard, 18-inch satellite dish mounted outside of a house. There are several providers of satellite Internet. HughesNet is the nation's largest provider of satellite Internet service, with monthly rates beginning at $39.99 per month, as of June 2011. WildBlue is another national provider, with service starting at $49.99 per month. Satellite Internet speed is comparable to DSL service.

Wireless broadband is an emerging option for people who don't live near a DSL or cable Internet service area. Wireless broadband does not rely on satellites, however. Instead, small receivers use cellular data networks to connect computers and other devices to the Internet. AT&T; is one of the largest providers of mobile broadband, which for an access card costs about $99 in June 2010, with additional monthly fees. While most services offer speeds comparable to dial-up Internet, in 2011 Verizon launched its USB 4G cards that offer speeds of up to 1.4 megabytes per second. That service cost about $50 per month for up to 5 gigabytes of data.