High-Speed internet: Overpriced in your opinion?

[Dryden]

All kidding aside, I think high-speed Internet is reasonably priced as it is.

I worked at an ISP start-up for six years, from 1995-2000. We did the $24.95/month for 28.8k (then 33.6, then 56k). I personally tried out the 56k x2 "shotgun modems" (two dial-up phone lines bonded for 112k) and I also tried ISDN (two 64k circuits from the phone company that can be bonded for 128k Internet).

Both options sucked ass.

I don't know anyone that wasn't blown away by the concept of "always on" ~300k-500k asynchronous minimum speeds for less than $50. What you're probably not including in your valuation of high speed Internet is the line charge. Under the old model, you paid your phone company ~$30-35 for a POTS line and you paid your ISP another $20-$25 for the dial-up. With DSL or RR it's all inclusive. You're getting the line & the data on one bill, and for virtually any high speed customer it's still less than basic dial-up has been for ten or twelve years.

 

[Buckin' A]

The only thing offered where I live is dial up and satelite high speed. I'll be damned if I'm going to pay $300.00 install fee then $70. per month. I asked the guy at Hughes Net how they could charge so much. He basically said that they know if you are asking about satelite internet, they know you have no other options.

 

[Buckin' A]

Seems to me, their willing to cut ya slack on the overall rates when they get you for more than 1 service.

 

[Thump]

The only thing offered where I live is dial up and satelite high speed. I'll be damned if I'm going to pay $300.00 install fee then $70. per month. I asked the guy at Hughes Net how they could charge so much. He basically said that they know if you are asking about satelite internet, they know you have no other options.

I'm in the same boat man.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

I'm in the same boat man.

 

[exhawg]

Any usage for valid business purposes lets you write off the cost of access. For example, if my company required me to check my work e-mail everyday, I could write off the cost of internet access for checking work e-mail from home. Not to mention if you actually have a home business...

Can you write off the whole cable bill since they won't give you high speed internet without getting cable as well?

 

[jwinslow]

The only thing offered where I live is dial up and satelite high speed. I'll be damned if I'm going to pay $300.00 install fee then $70. per month. I asked the guy at Hughes Net how they could charge so much. He basically said that they know if you are asking about satelite internet, they know you have no other options.

$50 month (thru SERO), wireless broadband thru sprint. You have to sign up for 2 years tho.

 

[sandgk]

Can you write off the whole cable bill since they won't give you high speed internet without getting cable as well?

Having been there and done something like this while consulting simple answer ...
No -
only the portion reflecting the actual cost of the high-speed internet, or it's fair market value if bundled.