Internet Access Providers


If you are interested in personal access to the resources on the Internet, you may wish to set up an account with an Internet access provider (also called an Internet service provider, or ISP for short) for a periodic subscription fee. Depending upon the degree of access and resources made available and upon the amount of time you utilize the service, this fee can range from $10 to $40 or more per month but is typically in the $17-$30 range for graphical Internet access. (Of course, you also need a computer and a modem to access the provider you choose. Providers can indicate the exact requirements.) "Choosing an Internet Provider" (The Computer Paper, December 1995) is an excellent article which explains many of the considerations when deciding which provider to choose, especially for people who are new to accessing the Internet. CNET maintains comparative ratings of both national and local Internet service providers as well as information on how to choose an ISP.

As an example of the kind of information that may be available to you wherever you live, there is an outstanding descriptive list of Chicago area Internet service providers maintained by Randy Smith. He has also developed a search page that indicates which providers are closest when one enters the local Chicago area code and telephone exchange. THE LIST, Cybertoday, and Boardwatch Directory of ISPs have compiled information on national, regional, and local Internet providers.

The following somewhat-dated documents give information about various aspects of Internet access:


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Last modified: April 28, 1998