But the yearly cost depends more on the monthly rate. These ISP accounts are great if you won't be spending much time on-line. While cost may be the determining factor when you choose your first ISP, reliability and quality of service quickly become more important, especially if your Internet connection goes down often. A recent survey of readers of PC Week and Interactive Week on ISPs revealed that 96 percent of Internet users consider reliability critical and rank service a very close second. Reliability refers to having the Internet connection up and running when you need it.
Poor service includes busy signals, delays in transmission, and loss of data.
If the ISP you have chosen is not consistently available to answer questions or if the service is not running smoothly, you should find another provider before your next month's bill comes due. While cost may be the determining factor when you choose your first ISP, reliability and quality of service quickly become more important, especially if your Internet connection goes down often. Avoid taking a prepayment discount, unless you are sure you won't get stuck with six months of bad service. Quality of service also depends on how your ISP connects to the Internet. T3 connections are very fast, but T1 connections are good and they are what most providers have.