Today, users are able to do more using the internet than ever before, and America Connects offers you more ways to get connected. Just enter your address within the box above to find internet providers and the most affordable plans in your area.
Trying to decide which internet service will work the best for you? Keep reading for more information about internet access solutions, speeds and more.
Which Washington High Speed Internet Service is Right for you?
The internet has become a powerful tool that enables you to keep in touch with friends and family, work remotely at home, download media for entertainment on your own schedule and much more. Internet service providers (ISPs) realize that your internet needs are unique and now they provide more options for high speed internet than ever before.
What exactly is High Speed Internet?
When the internet was launched in the mid-1990's, the only option was what's known as dial-up service. Dial-up delivers internet access in to the home employing a local phone number and active telephone line. At the time this was a great solution for many individuals since most people already had a home telephone.
Nevertheless, internet speeds tended to be sluggish and were dependent on your local area. One other drawback was that in order to gain access to the internet the telephone line used as the connection had to be free. As the internet evolved to include more robust media and sites many discovered they needed a quicker internet service.
ISPs turned to cable and digital subscriber lines (DSLs) to supply speedier internet services. These methods are known as "broadband". Over the years as internet services have improved, the measurement for what's considered high speed has evolved.
These days, the FCC considers an internet service to be high speed if it has data download or upload speeds exceeding 768,000 bits per second (768 Kbps). The speed of your high-speed internet can still vary based on a few factors for example how much bandwidth you share with other customers employing your ISP and your proximity to your ISP.
Those considering high-speed internet can select between cable internet, DSL internet, satellite internet or fiber optic high speed internet services.
Washington Cable High Speed Internet Services and Providers
Cable internet services work with a cable TV connection to supply consumers with internet access. In order to make the connection there's a cable modem at the users end and a cable modem termination system on the cable providers end. The space between the modem and termination system can be as much as 100 miles without any issues occurring.
Cable broadband internet can operate at around 30 Mbps, however some cable modems may limit the volume of data being transmitted. In addition, when you use cable high speed internet services you share bandwidth with other subscribers. The network monitor makes sure that bandwidth is distributed efficiently to ensure service doesn't slow down during hours when overall usage peaks.
There are many service provider options for cable broadband internet. Time Warner and Comcast are major cable high speed internet service providers throughout most of the US.
Check the availability of cable high speed internet service in your area - enter your address within the box above.
Washington DSL Internet Services and Providers
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) high speed internet services transfer data through a copper phone line. Unlike dial-up services, DSL works off of frequencies that are not used for making phone calls by splitting the line in two - one for voice calls and another for high speed internet use.
Digital subscriber lines run from a central office out to consumers. 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 exact download and upload speeds.
The good thing is that virtually no infrastructure is involved and it is a true broadband internet service that transmits data at a rate of up to 10Mbps. DSL also offers better stability and security than some other options because it is being provided by a phone line that often isn't shared.
Top DSL ISPs include AT&T. You can find DSL options from service providers in your town by entering your address within the box above.
Washington Satellite High Speed Internet Services and Providers
Satellite broadband internet services employ orbiting satellites to capture and pass on broadband data between a satellite company and its customers. Although 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 around 1-2 seconds.
Despite the chance of short delays, satellite high speed internet is capable of supplying data at 5Mbps. Satellite high speed internet is ideal for those wanting broadband internet in rural locations where DSL and cable services aren't available. AT&T, and the Dish Network are both major providers of satellite internet services.
See if satellite broadband internet services are available in your area by entering your address inside the box above.
Washington Fiber Optic Broadband Internet Services and Providers
Fiber optic is the most recent and fastest approach to bring high speed 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 are more dependable than cable, DSL and satellite services. This is due to the fact that fiber optic wiring is more resilient than other connections and isn't impacted by storms, static or noise.
For those trying to find 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 offer fiber optic/copper hybrid services but 100% fiber optic broadband internet services are only available through Verizon FiOS. They started providing fiber optic internet services in 2006 and are continuously increasing their service areas.
See if fiber optic internet services are available in your city - enter your address in the box above.
