Choosing an Internet Service Provider As the Internet becomes more popular, both in e-commerce and personal computer use, the need for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) grows. With so many ISPs now in operation, the choices for service are vast and the process of finding the right provider for your needs has become much more involved than when the Internet first became accessible to the public. The first step in choosing an ISP is to know what you need. Will you be using the Internet for business or personal use? What type of work will you be doing on the Internet? Will you be connecting more than one computer (i.e. connecting a network)?What modem speed do you have? Once you have determined your needs, it will be simpler to determine what ISP will be able to provide the best service for you.Some important things to consider, and questions to ask when shopping for an Internet Service Provider are: 1.Connectivity How does the ISP connect to the rest of the Internet? This can have a large effect on your web surfing, web sites, or other Internet related activities. It is important to know what speed they are connecting at, what types of cables they are using, what type of network they are on, and what type of hardware or software they are using. The term bandwidth relates to the amount of traffic that the ISPs cabling can carry at any one time. If there are lots of users, and lower bandwidth, you will experience a much slower connection. You should be looking for a provider with at least a T1 connection. Check to make sure that your modem is fast enough to support your Internet use. Most providers recommend at least a 28.8kbps modem.2.Accessibility How many incoming modem lines does the ISP maintain? (What is the customer to modem ratio?) Is the dial-up number a local call? Can you connect from another city? All of these are important questions to ask about the perspective ISP. An ISP with only two or three telephone l...
