Selecting an Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Finding the right Internet service provider (ISP) requires taking a close look at your needs and the environment in which you’ll be accessing the web. Once the basic usage criteria are determined, the task of sorting through the many available providers and their various packages will be easier.

Remember: Just as you wouldn’t buy a car or other long-term purchase based on a TV advertisement, neither should you rely on advertising campaigns to serve as your primary source of information for selecting an ISP. Some up-front research will pay off in the end.

Personal or program/project use
If the Internet access will be for program or project use, the selection criteria may be different than if it’s solely for personal use. If for business use, remember that you may want to obtain multiple e-mail addresses for staff or service members. An ISP should include webmail services, with 5, 10, or even 20 free e-mail addresses included with a basic account. If they require an additional fee for fewer than 10 e-mail accounts, you may want to consider a different provider.

Local service vs. national brand
Local ISPs tend to provide more hands-on support than a national brand, but sometimes are unable to offer as many services for the same price. National brand ISPs (such as AOL, Earthlink, or MSN) are commonly selected simply because they're well known; but local ISPs know their customers well and often have a good handle on their needs. While there is nothing inherently wrong with national providers, don't rule out local ISPs simply because they’re smaller.

Connectivity options
Does the ISP offer DSL or some other type of connection you want? If you don't already have high-speed access through your phone or cable company, many ISPs will take care of setting this up for you. If it's within your budget, consider getting broadband as it will radically improve almost everything you do on the Internet. As mentioned above, webmail service should also be included. This allows you to check your e-mail from any computer with an Internet connection, which is an important convenience for people who travel.

Web hosting requirements
Even if you don’t have a website now, you may want to create one in the future, so it’s a good idea to consider web hosting needs. Even the most basic plan with an ISP should offer web hosting as a built-in component. Ensure that at least 10MB of storage is included, with inexpensive upgrades for adding more in the future. A good ISP will also assist you in obtaining a domain name or transferring an old domain name from another ISP; this should be done free of additional charges. Furthermore, some ISPs will absorb the purchasing cost of a domain name as an incentive for new subscribers, so ask about that as well.

Finally, a "web traffic" monitoring system can be very important for any business or nonprofit website. Be sure the ISP has a reporting mechanism in place that is easy to use and that allows you to see web traffic for your site on a monthly basis (at least). If they don't have examples on their site, ask to see some.

Service reputation
Taking time to investigate the service quality of an ISP before you sign up can pay off later. Talk with others in your area, and find friends and relatives who use the Internet in more or less the same manner as you — then listen to what they say about their ISP. Don't automatically assume that someone younger and more tech-savvy can offer the best recommendation. For example, the support needs of a 15-year-old who plays online games all day and knows his computer inside and out might be very different from yours.

Local ISPs are often featured in annual "best of" contests run by local news or entertainment weeklies, among other places; and national ISPs are routinely rated by computer publications, such as PC Magazine and MacWorld. Magazine reviews are generally well researched and thorough, so while a competitive review of nationwide ISPs might not point to a clear winner, it can help you narrow down the options.

Finally, Mac or Linux users beware: Occasionally an ISP will tell you that they can't offer technical support for those operating systems. It’s best to abandon those providers as possibilities, as any capable ISP (even the smallest local provider) should be able to handle non-Windows subscribers.

Price
Because pricing is highly competitive among ISPs, big differences are unlikely. For that reason, price is seldom a deciding factor in determining which ISP is right for you. If an ISP offers the features and support you're looking for, odds are that the price will be close to that of the competition. If the price differential is, in fact, great for the same services, you may want to look elsewhere. Also, watch for hidden start-up and installation charges. Be sure when you speak with the ISP about their packages that they disclose the total amount you'll pay for the first month, and for each month thereafter.

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