Internet Service Update

The U.S. ranks very low among developed nations with respect to broadband availability, speeds, and prices. We’re not even in the top 20! And in Maine, we’re not even keeping up with many other states. Many Maine residents are still unable to affordably, or even physically, access DSL or Cable Internet service. The ConnectME Authority is just getting underway — it is charged with the task of developing incentive programs to encourage broadband and wireless services in Maine’s rural areas. Let’s hope for effective and quick action. Here are some of the best choices available now and one for the future:

Dialup Our top pick for dial-up is 207me.com, a local full-featured service, including free accelerator technology and statewide toll-free access, for just $7 per month.
DSL The lowest prices for DSL are from Verizon, starting at $15/month (for those in Verizon territory). Customers who do not want Verizon’s local phone service may purchase standalone DSL starting at $25/month. GWI offers a high-quality competitive DSL alternative in many locations. GWI’s DSL, at 3 Mbs is four times faster than Verizon’s entry-level 768 Kbs product. Maine’s 22 independent telephone companies are usually the only DSL option in their telephone exchanges, although they may market DSL jointly with local ISPs. They have done a good job making DSL accessible but prices are often much higher than those of Verizon.
Cable Since Time Warner has acquired Adelphia, its RoadRunner service enjoys a very large share of Maine’s cable-modem market. Time Warner will also be expanding its companion Digital Phone service in the former Adelphia territory. Cable-modem prices have remained stable but high — around $45.
Wireless Wireless radio broadband Internet service remains costly where available in a few areas of the state. Cell phone mobile broadband services (GPRS) such as Edge and EvDO, are expanding and becoming more widely available throughout Maine, although they offer low-end broadband speeds.
Satellite Starband and Wildblue are both now offering satellite broadband service at $50/month plus a $300 investment in equipment. The best thing about satellite broadband is that anyone with a clear view of the southern sky can have it. Wildblue may not be accepting new customers before the summer, when their new satellite is ready.
Free Broadband For Everyone? The FCC has received proposals, including one from M2Z Networks — m2znetworks.com — that promises to provide free broadband, based on WiMax (wireless) technology, to 95% of people in the U.S. within 10 years. So what’s the catch? M2Z needs the FCC to grant it some unused radio spectrum and then it plans to recover the costs of the free service from advertising revenues (much like Google). The Public Advocate supports this proposal.

Speed Matters

You’ll need speed when you play videos, download large files, or use a voice over Internet service. The following chart shows the general range of speeds from the various types of Internet services. Some services are more variable than others – for example, cable-modem connection speeds may vary substantially depending on the number people in your neighborhood who are using the service simultaneously. On the other hand, DSL speeds are fairly constant, but DSL speeds depend on the bandwidth allocated by the provider. For example, GWI charges more than Verizon for DSL (in much of Verizon territory), but GWI offers a much faster entry-level speed (3Mbs vs. 768 Kbs). You may test your actual speed using a free online test, such as speedtest.net or CNET’s bandwidth meter test at: reviews.cnet.com/7004-7254_7-0.html

Kbs 1 kilobit per second = 1000 bits per second (it takes 8 bits [or one byte] to make up one character on a computer)

Mbs 1 megabit per second = 1 million bits per second = 1000 Kbs

internet service providers

COMPANY	FEATURES	PRICES
STATEWIDE TOLL FREE-DIAL-UP
207ME Maine Dialup \| 888-229-2411 \| http://www.207me.com	4 email addresses with 50 Mb mailbox space \| free 6x accelerator	(res) $6.95/mo. \| (bus) $9.95/mo. \| No setup fee
Aroostook Internet \| 800-752-4330 \| http://www.ainop.com	4 email addresses with 5 Mb space	$19/mo. \| No setup fee
CC Net \| 207-443-2211 \| http://www.clinic.net	3 email addresses with 5 Mb space	$17.50 to $20/mo. \| No setup fee
Dial Maine \| 800-624-6380 \| http://www.dialmaine.com	5 email addresses with 100 Mb space	$16 to $20/mo. \| No setup fee
GWI \| 866-494-2020 \| http://www.gwi.net	2 email addresses with 40 Mb space	$9@10 hrs. / $16@40 hrs. \| $20 to $24/mo. unlimited \| $15 setup fee
Midcoast Internet \| 207-594-8277 \| http://www.midcoast.com	3 email addresses with 20 Mb space	$20/mo. @ 300/hrs. \| $10 setup fee
Mid-Maine \| 877-643-6246 \| http://www.midmaine.com	5 email addresses with 20 Mb space	$15 to $18/mo. \| No setup fee
MPDU \| 800-721-1063 \| http://www.mpdu.com	4 email addresses with 5 Mb space	$15/mo. \| No setup fee
NNEI \| 866-500-6634 \| http://www.nnei.net	1 email address with 5 Mb space	$19 to $22/mo. \| No setup fee
Panax \| 888-452-5100 \| http://www.panax.com	3 email addresses with 10 Mb space	$14.92 to $19/mo. \| No setup fee
Points South \| 866-490-0100 \| http://www.psouth.net	1 email address with 10 Mb space	$15.83 to $19.50/mo. \| No setup fee
Verizon \| 877-483-5898 \| http://www.verizon.com	1 email address with 10 Mb	$20/mo. @ 150 hours \| $23/mo.-unlimited \| $10 fee or signup online
XpressAmerica Internet Service \| 888-504-6200 http://www.xpressamerica.net	5 email addresses with free personal web space	$13 to $15/mo. \| No setup fee
NATIONAL ISPs (DIAL-UP) check for an access # in your local toll free calling areas
550access.com \| signup online \| http://www.550access.com	1 email address with 5 Mb space	$5.50/mo. @ 150 hrs. \| $9/mo. @ 300 hrs. with accelerator
650dialup.com \| 866-255-2164 \| http://www.650dialup.com	5 email addresses with 10 Mb space	$6.50/mo. \| $8 setup fee
AOL \| 800-392-5180 \| http://www.aol.com	Multiple email addresses	$10/mo. @ 10 hrs. \| $26/mo. unlimited
AT&T Worldnet \| 800-400-1447 \| http://www.att.com	6 email addresses with 150 Mb space	$15/mo. if ATT cust. \| $22/mo. non-ATT cust.
CORECOMM \| 877-267-3266 \| http://www.core.com	10 email addresses with 25 Mb space	$10/mo \| $13/mo. with accelerator \| no setup fee
Earthlink \| 800-327-8454 \| http://www.earthlink.net	8 email addresses with 10 Mb space per email address	$14 to $22/mo. \| $25 setup fee
Juno/Netzero \| 888-349-0029 \| http://www.netzero.net http://www.juno.com	Email on the web with 2 Gb storage space	FREE @ 10/hrs. mo. \| $10/mo. unlimited \| $15/mo. with accelerator
Localnet \| 888-488-7265 \| http://www.localnet.com	10 email addresses with 10 Mb space	$10/mo. \| $13/mo. with accelerator
Netscape \| 800-716-7445 \| http://www.getnetscape.com	Email on the web with 10 Mb space	$10/mo. \| $15/mo. with accelerator
Peoplepc \| 877-947-3327 \| http://www.peoplepc.com	4 emails with 10 Mb space	$11/mo. \| $16/mo. with accelerator
USAdatanet \| 800-290-2655 \| http://www.usadatanet.net	Unlimited email addresses	$10/mo. \| $15/mo. with accelerator
WIRELESS HIGH SPEED INTERNET
Airolink Wireless \| 207-680-5465 \| http://www.airolink.net	Parts of Kennebec and Somerset Counties	5 email addresses with 50 Mb space	$40/mo. Res.Bus. starting at $50/mo.$25 Equipment cost
Aroostook Internet \| 800-752-4330 \| http://www.ainop.com	Available in Houlton, St. Agatha area	4 email addresses with 5 Mb space	$40/mo. Res. & Bus. $125 Equipment cost
Downeast Wireless \| 207-667-7414 \| http://www.downeast.net	Available in Ellsworth and Blue Hill area	4 email addresses with 5 Mb space	$50/mo.$250 Equipment cost
Midcoast Internet \| 207-594-8277 \| http://www.midcoast.com	Various locations in the mid-coast area	4 email addresses with 20 Mb space	$50/mo.$100 to $200 Equipment cost
Pioneer Wireless \| 866-335-1254 \| http://www.pwless.net	Northern Maine-Medway to Fort Kent (Calais was recently added)	5 email addresses with 10 Mb space	Res. $40/mo. Bus. $50/mo. $99-$199 Equipment cost
Redzone \| 207-596-5700 \| http://redzonewireless.com	Available in 90% of Thomaston, 50% of Rockland & parts of S. Thomaston, Rockport, Union, Hope, Owls Head, Appleton, Searsmont, Lincolnville & Camden	Basic service does not provider email address. Free email service w/storage can be obtained at Google Gmail, MSN Hotmail or Yahoo Mail.	Res. $20/mo. Bus. $30/mo. $ setup fee
SJV Wireless, Inc. \| 877-475-8638 \| http://www.sjv.net	Fort Kent, Wallagrass, some areas of St. John	1 email with 3 Mb space	Res. $35/mo. Bus. $50./mo.$99 Res. Equipment cost$199 Bus. Equipment cost
DSL HIGH SPEED INTERNET
(Local Independent Phone Companies )	Throughout local territories	Call local phone company fordetails	Res. ($30/mo.-$60/mo.) Call company for rates
Aroostook Internet \| 800-752-4330 \| http://www.ainop.com	Presque Isle, Caribou, and Houlton areas	4 email addresses with 5 Mb space	Res. $35/mo. Bus. $70/mo.
GWI \| 866-494-2020 \| http://www.gwi.net	Available in 40 exchanges withinVerizon's territory	5 email addresses with 40 Mb space	Res. $35/mo. Bus. $50/mo. No setup fee
Midcoast Internet \| 207-594-8277 \| http://www.midcoast.com	Available throughout Maine in selected exchanges	4 email addresses with 20 Mb space	$35/mo. Verizon customers $43/mo. Non-Vz customers$75 setup fee
Midmaine \| 877-643-6246 \| http://www.midmaine.com	Available throughout Maine in selected exchanges	5 email addresses with 20 Mb space	Res. $30/mo. Bus. $80/mo.Installation Res. $55 Bus. 250
Oxford Networks \| 800-520-9911	Lewiston/Auburn (not all areas yet) and Norway/South Paris	5 email addresses with 10 Mb space	Res. $38/mo. Bus. $60-$80/mo.
Pioneer Wireless \| 866-335-1254 \| http://www.pwless.net	Northern Maine - Fort Kent area	5 email addresses with 10 Mb space	$35/mo.
Pivot.Net \| 800-400-5568 \| http://www.pivot.net	Available in selected exchanges	7 email addresses with 25 Mb space	$35/mo.
Verizon \| 877-483-5898 \| http://www.verizon.com	Available in much of Verizon territory	9 email addresses with 10 Mb space	Res. starting at $15/mo. Bus. $60/mo.
CABLE MODEM HIGH SPEED INTERNET
Aroostook Internet \| 800-752-4330 \| http://www.ainop.com	Houlton area	4 email addresses with 5 Mb space	$25-$35 depending on speed
Bee Line Cable \| 800-439-4611	Skowhegan, Wilton, Madison, Industry, Anson, Farmington	5 email addresses with 10 Mb space	Res. $30/mo. Bus. $35/mo.
Comcast \| 800-266-2278 \| http://www.comcast.com	Berwick, So. Berwick, Eliot & Kittery, Brunswick & Freeport areas	Res.-7 email addresses w/ 10 Mb spaceBus.-10 email addresses w/ 10 Mb space	Res. $24-$53 /mo. $30 installation feeBus. $52 /mo.$50 installation fee
Metrocast Online \| 800-695-2545 \| http://www.metrocast.com	Acton, Lebanon, Sanford, Shapleigh, Springvale	2 email addresses with 40 Mb space	$33/mo.
Pine Tree Cablevision \| 800-220-3320 \| http://www.ptc-me.net	Machias area	3 email addresses with 10 Mb space	$21 to $50/mo., depending on selected speed+$3/mo. modem rental
Time Warner Cable \| 800-833-2253 \| http://www.twcable.com	Most of Maine	8 email addresses with 10 Mb space	$45/mo.No installation fee
SATELLITE HIGH SPEED INTERNET
HughesNet (formerly Direcway) \| 888-667-5537 http://www.hughesnet.com	Available statewide (Generally requires clear view of so. sky)	5 email addresses with 10 Mb space	$60/mo. + $400 equipment cost $100 installation cost
Skycasters 800-853-0434 http://www.skycasters.com	Available statewide (Generally requires clear view of so. sky)	2 email accounts	$100/mo. + $600 equipment $300 installation cost
Starband \| 800-478-2722 \| http://www.starband.com	Available statewide (Generally requires clear view of so. sky)	10 email addresses with 10 Mb space	$50/mo. $300 equipment cost
WildBlue - TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE; Expected Availability July 2007 \| 866-945-3258 \| http://www.wildblue.com	Available statewide (Generally requires clear view of so. sky)	5 email addresses	$50/mo. +$300 equipment Free installation

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Internet Service Update

Speed Matters

internet service providers