For those who can't afford to be offline, keeping the trusty 56K modem and a dial-up account is probably a good idea. The 56K modem, the standard device for dial-up phone connections, has been around since 1997, almost an eternity for a computer part. But more people still use such connections because they are available everywhere and are cheaper than high-speed services. Cable speeds can vary depending on traffic. This is latest price for Verizon's basic DSL service.
Higher speeds cost more.
St. Petersburg Times.