Connecting Your Home to the Internet: ISPs

You need an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to connect your home to the internet. An ISP is a company that provides internet connections to consumers. The first well-known company to do this was AOL. Major ISPs today include AT&T, Cox, Spectrum, Verizon, Comcast, Google, and others.

There are four types of connections: DSL (digital subscriber line), cable, fiber optic cable, and satellite. What is available at your home address will depend on where you live. The more rural your area, the fewer choices you might have.

Internet service rates speed in megabits (Mbps). Download speed is generally much faster than upload speed, as the download speed is essential to streaming entertainment and web surfing. The FCC has defined broadband speed as a minimum of 25 megabits down and three megabits up. For example, streaming high-definition movies requires 5 – 8 Mbps at a minimum. You’ll need more than the base level of service if you have multiple devices connected to your home network or stream movies in ultra-high definition. Most ISPs offer discounts to households under a certain income level or those enrolled in SANP or other programs.

Cable

The most popular connection type, cable internet, is possibly served through the same coaxial wire that provides your cable TV service. Speeds vary by plan, usually between 25 Mbps and 250 Mbps. Most cable companies have discounts for customers that bundle cable and internet service. Cable usually is a very stable and reliable internet connection.

DSL

DSL internet uses your standard copper wire telephone lines to connect your home to an internet node, and this speed is generally not as fast as cable, between 3 Mbps and 10 Mbps. DSL can slow when many people in the same area use the internet simultaneously. Telephone wiring was not designed for digital high-speed internet signals but may be the only option for some homes because of price or availability.

Fiber Optic

Fiber optic cable, sometimes called FTTH (Fiber to The Home), is the fastest internet connection type, with some services offering a blazing fast 1Gbps (gigabytes per second). To put that in perspective, you could download an entire DVD in a few seconds at that speed. Fiber optic is a newer technology and only covers about a quarter of US households.

Satellite

Satellite service is the only option for some rural areas. Speeds offered are between 5 Mbps and 15 Mbps. The downside to satellite internet is the same as satellite TV: weather and astronomical events can interrupt service. Satellite is generally the most expensive option and requires the most expensive equipment.

Your ISP brings the internet signal into your home through a modem that translates the signals from your carrier into signals your computer can use. Most homes connect a Wi-Fi router to the modem to provide wireless connections throughout the house. Some services, particularly DSL companies, give a combined modem/Wi-Fi router.