From: edguer@ces.cwru.edu (Aydin Edguer)
Newsgroups: alt.bbs.internet
Subject: READ THE FAQ (PLEASE?) (was Re: directions)
Date: 14 Apr 92 15:50:47 GMT
Article-I.D.: usenet.1992Apr14.155047.4781
Organization: Computer Engineering and Science, Case Western Reserve University

In article <1992Apr13.837740.627RA@infopls.chi.il.us> agrignon@infopls.chi.il.us (Andrew Grignon) writes:
> how does one actually become "connected" to the internet

The latest version of this FAQ is available from:
	pit-manager.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/news.answers/inet-bbs-faq

From "alt.bbs.internet Frequently asked Questions [FAQ]":

Subject: -5-  How do I get connected to the Internet?

Traditionally, connections to the Internet were dedicated connections.
This is still the most common type of connection.  Monthly costs for the
connection range anywhere from $250 per month [plus line charges] for a
dial-up 9600 bps connection to $4,000 [plus line charges] for a T1 [1.44Mbps]
connection.  There is also an initial one time startup fee of anywhere
from $100 to $8,000 [plus equipment charges].

Some service providers are also offering part-time dial-up connections.
Customers share a set of phone lines and dial-up when needed.  This is
usually less expensive than dedicated dial-up connections for customers
who need a connection less than 80 hours per month.  Monthly costs range
from $40-100 per month [plus line charges] plus an hourly charge of $2-4.

Some service providers have begun to offer a new "Dialin" service.  The
name for Dailin service varies from vendor to vendor.  The Dialin service
is usually provided as a way for Internet connected users to connect back
to their home sites from remote locations.  But most service providers do
not limit their service to this audience, it is open to people not already
on the Internet.  The Dialin service provides either a terminal server
connection [with password] or an account on the service provider's equipment
[with password] which permits you to use telnet to connect to other sites
on the Internet.  This service differs from the normal "dial-up" IP services
because it does not require the user to run any IP software like PPP 
(Point-to-Point Protocol) or SLIP (Serial Line IP).  The cost for this
service usually range from $35 to $250 per month [plus line charges].
There is also an initial $35 to $500 connection fee [plus equipment charges].

The following are a list of known Internet service providers, along with
the services they offer, an e-mail address to contact for more information,
a phone number to contact for more information, or an FTP archive for more
information.

ALTERNET
Full time connections
 speed		9.6K 14.4K 56K   T1   T3
Leased Line	 y     y    y    y    n
Dialup Line	 y     y    -    -    -
 note: T1=1.544Mbs T3=45Mbps
Part time connections: no
Dialin Service:	none
Region: national (USA)
Contact: alternet-info@uunet.uu.net
Phone: 1-800-4UUNET3
FTP: ftp.uu.net:/uunet-info/

PSINet
Full time connections
 speed		9.6K 14.4K 56K   T1   T3
Leased Line	 y     y    y    y    n
Dialup Line	 y     y    -    -    -
 note: T1=1.544Mbs T3=45Mbps
Part time connections: yes
Dialin Service:	Global Dialup Service (GDS)
Region: national (USA)
Contact: info@psi.com
Phone: 1-800-82PSI82
FTP: ftp.psi.com:/press.releases/

CERFnet
Full time connections
 speed		9.6K 14.4K 56K   T1   T3
Leased Line	 n     y    y    y    n
Dialup Line	 y     y    -    -    -
 note: T1=1.544Mbs T3=45Mbps
Part time connections: yes
Dialin Service:	DIAL'n'CERF (nationwide USA)
Region: California
Contact: help@cerf.net
Phone: 1-800-876-CERF
FTP: nic.cerf.net:/cerfnet/

ANSNET
Full time connections
 speed		9.6K 14.4K 56K   T1   T3
Leased Line	 n     n    y    y    y
Dialup Line	 n     n    -    -    -
 note: T1=1.544Mbs T3=45Mbps
Part time connections: no
Region: national (USA)
Contact: info@ans.net
Phone: 1-914-789-5300 or 1-313-663-2482
FTP: nis.ans.net:/pub/info/

MSEN
Full time connections
 speed		9.6K 14.4K 56K   T1   T3
Leased Line	 y     y    n    n    n
Dialup Line	 y     y    -    -    -
 note: T1=1.544Mbs T3=45Mbps
Part time connections: yes
Dialin Service:	yes [*note* it is a local call from any 313 #]
Region: Michigan
Contact: info@msen.com
Phone: 1-313-741-1120
FTP: ftp.msen.com:/pub/vendor/msen/

OARnet
Full time connections
 speed		9.6K 14.4K 56K   T1   T3
Leased Line	 y     y    y    y    y
Dialup Line	 y     y    -    -    -
 note: T1=1.544Mbs T3=45Mbps
Part time connections: yes
Dialin Service:	none
Region: Ohio
Contact: nic@oar.net
Phone: 1-614-292-0700

Please note, although this is a Frequently asked Question, this newsgroup,
alt.bbs.internet, is NOT for the discussion of how to get connected to the
Internet.  This is the correct newsgroup to discuss your bulletin board
system and what it offers once you are connected to the Internet.