Do You Have a Real Choice?

[Reader1]

In my area, we don't really have a choice for high-speed internet. Well, we sort of do. We can get Comcast's Broadband, or we can get Verizon's DSL. But that's it. No other choice for broadband, no other choice for DSL. Is this how it is everywhere, or am I just in a part of the country that never made it into the 21st century?

[bonecrusher]

There is RR if you want service, and than other people, like speakeasy or ATT, if you want to go through a bunch of hassels to get it.

So I guess I don't have a choice either.

[dream3133]

The only choices you have it what companys are servicing your area. The big boys aren't going to let the little boys in on their turf!

[ManyHats]

What's sad is that there are better companies just one or two towns over, but we can't get them because it's a monopoly of sorts. Each municipality seems to be served by only one high speed internet service, or at best, two main ones, like DSL and cable, but you don't get to pick your cable compnay anyhow.

[alexis]

Many people, depending on where you live are dealing with this issue all the time. Before we actually bought our house, we had to make sure 3x that the internet would be what we need for this area, otherwise we would have found another house.

[Turbo Powered]

All we have here is Comcast and Verizon as well. Verizon's good, but Comcast's usually faster even if it costs more. Should Comcast's price get much higher however, i'll probably be switching to Verizon.

[HighSpeedDemon]

Not too many choices in my area either. Would be nice if there was at least one more Cable option besides Comcast, but apparently that's asking too much!

[Netizen]

It's when a company monopolises the market that there tend to be more problems with the internet.The competition at least keeps the providers from delivering a below par service as they can lose their customers just as quickly.

[alexis]

I would ask myself if where I live is more important than the internet speed I receive. If you are renting, moving is not such a big deal if the lease is up soon, however if you own/mortgage your home, that may be another story all together.