High speed Internet service for your home essentially comes in two forms: Digital Subscrber Lines (DSL) and Cable Internet access. These two competing technologies can provide you with Internet connection speeds as high as 3 megabits per second (download speed) and typically 1/4 of that rate for uploads. Each of the competing high-speed Internet technologies require a device (normally called a modem or router) that connects to the service line and provides a single high speed Internet connection into your home.

DSL is a modem technology that uses existing phone equipment to transport high speed internet data. There are a number of different DSL services that you can choose from and the process vary widely depending on your needs. Basic DSL service is Asymmetric DSL (or ADSL) and this service has a lower upload speed than download. This is usually fine for home Internet use. If you need the same data rate in both directions, you can look into Symmetric (SDLS), which provides equal, upload and download speeds. As far as pricing is concerned, you can pay as little as $45 per month for basic service and upwards of $200 for top speed SDSL. Look for deals on installation and hardware, they are out there and change monthly.

High-speed cable Internet service is provided using standard cable television technology and provides only asymmetric data transfer capabilities. There are also fewer options for data transfer speed and you usually must use a dynamic IP address. The cost for cable Internet access is normally around $40 per month but you can find specials that waive installation charges and provide free connection hardware.