You can gain access to the Internet in a number of ways depending upon how much you are willing to spend. These include:
We will be looking at the above options in the upcoming frames.
The most economical choice is use the local public library, community college, or university. The advantage to using these institutions is that they generally provide free access. However the main drawback is you do not have the convenience of accessing the Internet in your home.
If your employer has access to the Internet, you might be able to access the Internet at work. Most employers pay a flat monthly fee, and usually do not mind if you use their Internet connection in off hours.
If you are looking for the convenience of an Internet connection in your own home, you have two choices: an online service or, an Internet service provider also known as an ISP for short.
An online service, such as America Online, allows you to connect to their computers. Usually, you are charged a flat rate for a set number of hours. If you go over that set amount, you are charged more. An online service has the advantage of providing you with Internet access, with additional services provided by the online service itself. A disadvantage can be how you are billed for your service.
An Internet service provider or ISP has a permanent connection to the Internet. They provide you with a connection to the Internet for a fee. Simply put, they are like a telephone company but provide Internet service instead of telephone service. Some providers allow you unlimited access at a fixed monthly rate. Others charge a fixed rate for a fixed amount of hours. Additional hours could cost you more.
Internet service providers can be national such as AT&T WorldNet, or local to your community. Most importantly, you should check to see if the ISP provides a local access telephone number. You don't want to be paying long distance telephone charges on top of your Internet access fee.