on 29/1/03 4:57 pm, Julia Thompson at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Alberto Monteiro wrote: >> But no one is _forced_ to use AOL. Don't like it? Get a decent >> Internet Provider > > But in some areas, AOL may be the closest thing to a "decent" ISP you can > get. > > In major cities, there's plenty of competition, because there are more > potential customers and the population can support a number of different > providers. In more rural areas, you may be lucky to have *one* broadband > option, forget being able to pick and choose the *best* provider, and dialup > as well may be limited to *one* option. (I don't know what we'd do for > dialup where we are now, and for broadband, there's only one provider. > We're not happy with the service at times, but there's no other option.) In > Austin, after a number of ISPs went under, there were still at least 5 > different options, at least 2 of them offering residential broadband. Out > in the boonies, things are more limited. And AOL may provide services that > people want that aren't available with any of the other options available to > them, in less internet-user-dense areas.
In the UK most people who have a phone line can use any dialup ISP from anywhere. And if you are in range of an ADSL enabled exchange [1] you can use any broadband ISP to provide your service. With cable broadband it depends which (if any) cable company has wired your area. [2] [1] Over 70% household coverage in August 2002. [2] Satellite TV seems to have been relatively more successful than cable in the UK compared to the US. -- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/ If you listen to a UNIX shell, can you hear the C? _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l