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High Speed Internet » Dsl Internet Providers

DSL Internet ISPs

There are currently several high speed internet digital subscriber line (DSL) internet service providers (ISPs) throughout the United States. The number of DSL ISPs has grown rapidly as the demand for broadband internet connectivity has increased due to consumer frustration with the speed limitations of dial-up connections. It has also developed as a result of people’s realization that they cannot fully use the many offerings on the internet without faster speeds.

DSL technology utilizes the existing telephone line network infrastructure to connect the consumer to the internet. Using telephone lines, DSL technology divides the lines into high and low-frequencies. The high-frequency bands are used to transmit internet communications such as data, voice, and video, and the low-frequency bands are used for regular telephone tasks, such as making and receiving calls. Unlike the older dial-up technology, which also uses existing phone lines, DSL allows the user to simultaneously be online and talking on the phone, using the same phone line.

Like most broadband, high speed internet connections, there is a discrepancy in connection speeds with DSL. The speed of the download or downstream connection, which is from the internet to the consumer’s computer, is faster than the upload or upstream connection, which is from the consumer’s computer to the internet.

For all of the DSL ISPs, the consumer will need to have a phone line running into their residence and a DSL modem. The consumer may also need to install specialized phone jacks if they are planning on using the same phone line for both telephone operations and as an internet connection. Some ISPs allow the consumer to perform a self-installation of the required devices and others recommend professional installation.

AT&T

  • Four tiers of service from which to choose: DSL Basic, DSL Express, DSL Pro, DSL Elite
  • Download connections speeds from 768 Kilobits per second (Kbps) to 6.0 megabits per second (Mbps)
  • Upload connection speeds from 384 Kbps to 768 Kbps

Earthlink

  • Three tiers of service from which to choose: 1.5 Mbps, 3.0 Mbps, 6.0 Mbps
  • Upload connection speeds from 1.5 Mbps to 6.0 Mbps

Qwest

  • Four tiers of service from which to choose: 1.5 Mbps, 7.0 Mbps, 12.0 Mbps, 20 Mbps
  • Download connection speeds from 1.5 Mbps to 20 Mbps.
  • Upload connection speeds up to 896 Kbps.

Verizon

  • Three tiers of service from which to choose: Starter Plan, Power Plan, Turbo Plan
  • Download connection speeds from 1.0 Mbps to 7.1 Mbps
  • Upload connection speeds from 384 Kbps to 768 Kbps

Windstream Communications

  • Three tiers of service from which to choose: Greenstreak 3 Mbps, Greenstreak 6 Mbps, Greenstreak 12 Mbps
  • Download connection speeds from 3.0 Mbps to 12 Mbps
  • Upload connection speeds up to 768 Kbps