[Cider Jim]

Fumble was very helpful in his PM, but I was wondering what others (esp. Scorcho & HMO) thought about options in Lynchburg for high speed Internet access. I don't need anything lightening fast, just something fast enough for U-Tube and audio streaming. And I want to go as inexpensive as possible (because I'm cheap).

Suggestions or recommendations?

[LUconn]

Depending on where you live, your choices are: Cable, DSL, wireless modem from cell phone company.


ITS SNOWING!

[El Scorcho]

LUconn nailed it. Those are your options in Lynchburg and, depending on where you live, you might not even have all three of those options.

768k DSL from Verizon will probably be the best bang for the buck. That's what I currently have after downgrading from cable Internet access to save some $. We didn't use a land line phone prior to ordering DSL, so I ordered the most stripped out phone service I could get and am currently paying $35 a month for the phone service and DSL.

It's worth noting that Verizon is currently running a special for those willing to sign a 2 year contract on 768k DSL. Signing that contract gets you $14.99 a month access for "life". Not a bad deal, especially if you already have a land line phone.

[alabama24]

there is another option - yes it is from a cell company but it is not like a cell phone card - N-Telos has wireless service that is pretty cheap.

http://www.ntelos.com/landline/resident ... dband.html

[Sly Fox]

Does AT&T offer DSL in Lynchburg? Their service was slightly better bang for the buck than Verizon here unless you bundled all of your services. Of course my primary motivation for switching to AT&T was so I would be ready to roll with U-verse the second the fiber arrived in my backyard (which allegedly should be in next 3 months).

I also pay the $10/month extra to tether my blackberry to my laptop when I'm on the go. Its much more cost-effective than an aircard when you are using your own nickel.

[El Scorcho]

Does AT&T offer DSL in Lynchburg?

Nope. This is Verizon country. It's unfortunate because AT&T now offers a "naked DSL" option, if you pester them enough. I'd gladly take that since we don't use a landline at our house.

[Sly Fox]

So you don't have competing telephone companies in Virginia?

[LUconn]

If it involves a powerline-like infrastructure, there is no competition. I don't know if that's statewide but it's certainly the case locally.

[Sly Fox]

Virginia really needs to get on the dereg bandwagon. It has saved me major money over the course of the last decade. Cable is the only service that didn't have competition except from satellite until AT&T started their U-verse fiber service. I can choose between about 20 different electricity providers that offer competing rates and incentives to switch back & forth. I can use either Verizon or AT&T for traditional land lines in addition to Comcast's garbage digital phone service.

Hopefully Virginia catches up with other states sooner rather than later.

[LUconn]

ha, just outside of Lynchburg, folks are still using an electrical coop for their power. I don't think we'll have power competition anytime soon.

And just in case you don't know what an electrical cooperative is (because I had never heard of one until I moved here): http://www.nreca.org/AboutUs/Co-op101.htm

[Sly Fox]

There are coops down here as well. But they are losing business rather rapidly as the big companies set up shop out in the sticks.