Today, people can do more with the internet than ever before, and America Connects offers you more ways to get connected. Simply enter your address in the box above to find internet service providers and the best-priced plans in your town.
Trying to determine which internet service is best for you? Continue reading for more information about internet access options, speeds and more.
Which Maryland High Speed Internet Service is Best for You?
The internet has become a powerful tool that helps you stay in touch with friends and family, work remotely from home, download media for entertainment on your own schedule and much more. Internet service providers (ISPs) understand that your internet needs are unique and now they provide more options for high speed internet than ever.
What is High Speed Internet?
When the internet was first introduced in the mid-1990's, the only option was what's known as dial-up service. Dial-up delivers internet access into the home by using a local phone number and active telephone line. At the time this was a good solution for many individuals since most already had a home phone.
Even so, internet speeds tended to be slow and depended on your local area. One other drawback was that in order to access the internet the telephone line used as the connection had to be free. As the internet evolved to include more robust media and websites many determined they required a faster internet service.
Internet Service Providers turned to cable and digital subscriber lines (DSLs) to provide speedier internet services. These methods are often referred to as "broadband". Over time as the services have gotten better, the measurement for what's considered high speed broadband has changed.
These days, the FCC considers an internet service to be high speed broadband if it has data download or upload speeds exceeding 768,000 bits per second (768 Kbps). The speed of your broadband internet may still vary based on several factors like how much bandwidth you share with other consumers employing your internet service provider as well as your proximity to your ISP.
Those considering broadband internet can choose between cable internet, DSL internet, satellite internet, or fiber optic internet services.
Maryland Cable Internet Services and Providers
Cable high speed internet services use a cable TV connection to supply consumers with broadband internet access. In order to make the connection there is a cable modem at the users end along with a cable modem termination system on the cable operators end. The length between the modem and termination system can be up to 100 miles without any problems occurring.
Cable internet can work at up to 30 Mbps, however some cable modems may limit the amount of data being transmitted. In addition, when using cable broadband internet services you share bandwidth with other consumers. The network monitor makes certain that bandwidth is distributed efficiently so that service doesn't slow during hours when overall usage peaks.
There are many service provider options for cable broadband internet. Comcast, Time Warner and Cox Communcations are all leading cable high speed internet service providers throughout much of the nation.
Check on the availability of cable broadband internet service in your town - call the number above or enter your address within the secure search form to get started.
Maryland DSL Internet Services and Providers
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) high speed internet services transmit data using a copper phone line. Unlike dial-up services, DSL works off of frequencies that aren't used for making telephone calls by splitting the line in two - one for voice calls and the other for high speed internet use.
Digital subscriber lines go from a central office out to customers. This typically restricts DSL distribution to a short distance of two miles from the central office, though some lines go up to 5 miles long. This factor also affects the actual download and upload speeds.
The good news is that virtually no infrastructure is needed and it's a true high speed internet service that transmits data at a rate of up to 10Mbps. DSL may also provide better stability and security than some other options because it is being delivered by a telephone line that usually isn't shared.
Top rated DSL internet service providers include AT&T and Verizon. You can find DSL options from providers in your area by entering your address in the box above.
Maryland Satellite High Speed Internet Services and Providers
Satellite high speed internet services employ orbiting satellites to capture and pass on broadband data between a satellite company and its customers. Though the download and upload speeds qualify as broadband, because data must travel to the satellite and back over many miles users can occasionally experience signal delays of about 1-2 seconds.
Despite the chance of short delays, satellite internet is capable of supplying data at 5Mbps. Satellite broadband internet is ideal for those wanting broadband internet in rural places where other internet services aren't available. AT&T and the Dish Network are both major providers of satellite high speed internet services.
See if satellite high speed internet services are available in your city by entering your address in the box above.
Maryland Fiber Optic Broadband Internet Services and Providers
Fiber Optic is the most recent and fastest way to bring internet into the home. Networks of fiber optic cables can deliver high speed internet up to 25 times faster than other high-speed options and provide an extremly solid internet connection. This is due to the fact that fiber optic wiring is more sturdy than other connections and isn't impacted by storms, static or noise.
For those searching for the fastest high speed internet access fiber optic is the way to go. Fiber optic networks are well known for their ability to transmit data at rates as high as 50 Mbps.
Presently, Comcast and AT&T deliver fiber optic/copper hybrid services but 100% fiber optic high speed internet services are only obtainable through Verizon FiOS. They began providing fiber optic broadband internet services in 2006 and are continuously adding to their service areas.
See if fiber optic internet services are available in your area - call the toll free number above for personal assistance or enter your address in the secure search form.
