AT& T (formerly SBC)
Their lowest promotion prices are $12.99 per month and $17.99 per month. You also have to pay a $12.95 shipping and handling fee. (And you have to pay $49.99 up front for a modem, but you get a mail-in rebate of $49.99 as well.)
The $12.99 price is for download speeds of 384 kbps - 1.5 mbps. The $17.99 price is for download speeds of 1.5 - 3.0 mbps.
Those prices are good for a 1-year contract, but beware. If you don't call AT&T before the year is up (I believe they send you a letter to remind you), the price goes up to $50/month. Once you call, though, AT&T will offer you whatever promotion they have at the time. There is a $99 termination fee if you break your 1-year contract.
Summary of AT&T prices:
Lower speeds: $12.99
Faster speeds: $17.99
Other fees: $12.95 shipping and handling,
$99 termination fee.
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Verizon
This company is offering a base price of $14.95 for download speeds of up to 768 kbps and upload speeds of 128kbps. The first month is free, however there is a $19.95 shipping and activation fee. This $14.95 offer is good only if you order via the internet though (a little Catch 22 there). If you call and speak to a live person instead, it'll cost you $17.99 a month. Ha!
For heavier internet users, Verizon has another, slightly more complicated promotion. For download speeds of up to 1.5 mbps, you get the first month free. Butttttt, for the second and third months it will cost you $21.95, and $29.95 for months 4-12. (Where'd they come up with that plan?) Upload speeds are about 384 kbps.
These Verizon promotions come with one-year contracts and a $79 termination fee if you break it. You also need to call before your term is up to get decent rates for the next 12 months. (for the second offer you can stay at $29.95.)
Summary of Verizon prices:
Lower speed: $14.95
Faster speed: $21.95-$29.95
Other fees: $19.95 shipping and activation fee.
$79 early termination fee.
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AOL
AOL doesn't have its own high speed infrastructure per say. It provides AOL service but uses AT&T or Verizon to deliver it in the Southland.
The price is $25.90 per month for a one-year term. After that year, Verizon custumers are still charged $25.90 per month, while the service with AT&T goes up to $29.99 per month. The speeds are generally 768 kbps for download and 128 kbps for upload. With Verizon there is a shipping and handling fee of $19.95 and a $79 early termination fee, just as if you'd went with them without AOL. AT&T (as shown above) asks for a $99 early termination fee.
Summary of AOL fees:
$25.90 for 768 kbps download speed
( for other fees see AT&T or Verizon fees.)
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Earthlink
Earthlink: This company is offering a promotion of $12.95 for the first six months in certain regions of the country, with a price of $29.95 after that. This promotion is for decent speeds: 1.5mbps for download speeds and 128 kbps for upload speeds. They also charge a $19.95 shipping fee, and $149.95 if you break your 1-year contract. (So I'd guess you'd better be sure you want to stay with them!)
Summary of Earthlink prices:
Faster speed: $12.95-$29.95
Other fees: $19.95 shipping fee,
$149.95 early termination fee.
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DSL Extreme
DSL Extreme offers a promotion of $12.95 per month for customers with SBC phone service. That promotion offers speeds ranging from 384 kbps - 1.5 mbps for download, and 128 - 384 kbps for upload. Those with Verizon can expect to pay a little more, $14.95 per month. Speeds with Verizon are 768 kbps for download and 128 kbps for upload. These prices don't include $15.43 for the shipping and handling of the modem.
As with the others, you're in for a 1-year contract. But if you renew before it expires, you can lock in the price DSL Extreme is offering returning customers at the time. That price is not yet determined.
Watch out, though. The early termination fee if you decide to end the 1-year contract is a whopping $250! However, the provider does offer a month-to-month contract where it charges you a $60 setup fee.
Summary of DSL Extreme prices:
Lower Speeds: $12.95-$14.95
Other fees: $15.43 for shipping and handling of modem,
$250.00 early termination fee.
I also talked to a couple of companies that offer cable modem: