Pricing

Dial-up modems
Gone are the days when you had to pay by the hour, racking up your monthly bills. Most ISPs will charge a limited fee for unlimited access and an email address or two.

Quite a few firms have started to provide free Internet access, though … if you're only talking about limited surfing, these may be your best bet (as long as you don't mind dealing with constant advertising).

Cable modems
Typical prices range from $39 - $50/ month. Setup costs vary from $100 to $300 regionally, though some vendors will waive the installation fee if you sign a one-year contract.

DSL
Costs range from $59 - $250/ month, plus $100 - $300 for initial equipment and installation charges. For about $100/ month, businesses can get speeds exceeding 1Mbps -- with the potential for much faster speeds in the future.

Altogether, with set-up and other fees, businesses should expect to see a monthly price tag that runs between $200-800.

When comparing DSL prices, note that some providers list only the cost for the line itself. Add the ISP costs from that provider or a DSL-ready ISP (call before you sign up if you aren't sure) to get your total monthly bill.

Leased lines
For a full T-1 line, you can expect to pay between $200 -- $700/ month, with an installation fee (of course) between $200 - $500.

Prices vary by region. And don't forget, you have to pay for the ISP's services as well, on top of the line. You could end up paying between $800 - $2,000/ month.

ISDN
The average monthly service charge in the U.S. is in the range of $40 - $60. Phone companies are offering home ISDN at less than $30/ month -- usually cheaper on the west coast, and higher in rural areas.

Installation will run you about $125. Your monthly bill for the line can cost anywhere from $30 - $100. And the ISPs that support ISDN tend to be a bit more expensive than those that don't.

Finally, the special modem you'll need will run you about $250.