The chart below lists dozens of options for residential Internet access via both broadband -- cable modem, digital subscriber line (DSL), satellite and wireless -- and conventional dial-up.
That adds up to more than 50 services, but the chart leaves out many others. It excludes providers that don't offer tech support via a local or toll-free call, and it features dial-up services in only two categories: those operated by Washington area firms and those run by a selection of the largest nationwide providers. Companies that didn't answer our survey questionnaire are also, necessarily, absent here.
Except for wireless providers, which are summarized in print and listed in full on washingtonpost.com, we include the following information (a dash means no answer was provided):
Who: Name, Web page, e-mail address, phone number and headquarters .
Price plans: We list all the under-$70 plans available, starting with modem dial-up service. Dial-up prices are month-to-month rates, including the hours of connect time allotted. "Accelerated" dial-up uses file-compression and networking shortcuts to speed up Web and, less often, e-mail downloads. It requires installing special, usually Windows-only software first.
Broadband plans may require one-year contracts. They're all "always on" -- we omit "one-way" offerings that require you to log on and upload data with a regular modem -- so there is no connect time to track. Instead, we list plans' typical download and upload speeds in thousands or millions of bits per second (Kbps or Mbps).
We don't include setup and hardware costs -- usually $20 or less for dial-up, under $100 for DSL or cable, and $500 or more for satellite.
Coverage: Where you can log on without surcharges. "Washington and adjacent counties" means the District; Arlington, Fairfax, Montgomery and Prince George's counties; and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax. "Greater Washington area" includes that core area and adds Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Howard, St. Mary's, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William and Stafford counties. We also list how many other states beyond Maryland and Virginia you can get online.
Coverage estimates for dial-up and DSL are based on providers' lists of access numbers. Before you open a dial-up account, make sure that you won't get hit with toll charges (check with the phone company). For DSL, verify that you can get service by checking your address and phone number at the provider's Web site.
For cable providers, we list the jurisdictions where they offer TV service; individual neighborhoods may still be out of reach. Wireless coverage estimates come from the providers themselves.
