Broadband Internet Access - FAQ

This Web site has been designed to answer some of our most frequently asked questions about broadband. While much has been written about broadband lately, many consumers are not sure exactly what it is, what it can do, and what is the potential.

What is Broadband?

Broadband refers most commonly to a new generation of high-speed transmission services, which allows users to access the Internet and Internet-related services at significantly higher speeds than traditional modems. It has the potential technical capability to meet consumers' broad communication, entertainment, information, and commercial needs and desires.

Are There Different Types of Broadband?

There are several types of broadband services

• Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
• Cable Modem
• Wireless Internet
• Satellite

What are the Advantages of Broadband?

You can access the Internet without the nuisance of dialing up your Internet service provider over a telephone line. Broadband facilitates advanced telecommunication capabilities.

The speeds at which information is downloaded into your computer are sometimes 50 times faster than a dial-up modem's. Users can go online without tying up their telephone lines. Businesses can use broadband networks for videoconferencing, for example, and to let employees telecommute. It can tap into an expanded number of entertainment resources. Links can often be established in even the remotest parts of the country.

What Are Some of the Options with Broadband?

Broadband technology will potentially allow users to download more information, including new multimedia applications, streaming news, music, games, video conferencing, telephony applications, and eventually video programming similar to current television and cable services.

What is Narrowband?

Narrowband PCS uses a smaller portion of the spectrum than broadband PCS. It is broadly defined by the FCC as a family of mobile or portable radio services that may be used to provide wireless telephony, data, advanced paging, and other services to individuals and businesses, and which may be integrated with a variety of competing networks. For example, advanced paging systems may become equipped with a small keyboard allowing the subscriber to both retrieve and send complete messages through microwave signals (e.g. wireless E-mail). Narrowband licenses will most likely be used to provide such new services as voice message paging, two-way acknowledgment paging, and other text-based services.

Test your Internet Connection Speed

There are several sites on-line that will check your connection speed, but one we like is SpeedTest.net.

(Information provided by the Federal Communications Commission)