In effect, broadband is a huge pipeline that links consumers to the Internet's deepening pool of news, information, entertainment and data. Relying on digital and fiber-optic technologies, broadband eliminates the "world wide wait" that plagues slower Internet-access services such as America Online.
A broadband connection to the internet can be as much as 100 times faster than a "dial-up" service like AOL, which uses a copper-based telephone line to connect to the internet. Indeed, broadband turns surfing the World Wide Web into a sprint, rather than a crawl. What's more, a broadband connection is always on. You don't have to make a telephone call every time you want to connect your computer to the Internet.
The cost of hooking up service varies. But be prepared to spend up to $150 for installation; another $100 for hardware and software; and from $19.95 to $100 a month for service. Costs will drop over time, but today, your best bet is to check out your locally available options. You can do this by accessing "service availability" within this site. You may also want to look for advertised specials that usually include discounts on installation, equipment and monthly service fees.