These companies have been working with other communication networks to make ADSL the de facto standard for digital subscriber lines. If things go according to plan, ADSL would be able to download information at 1.5 megabits per second and upload data at an average of 512 kilobits per second. All of the new forms of high speed Internet access have their Achilles' heel. To obtain the maximum quality of service, DSL subscribers must live within 3.5 kilometers of a local phone switching station. Prices rise and performance drops significantly the farther a user lives away from a switching station, which could become a real aggravation for people in less populated areas of the country.
Price is another factor.
Still, when it comes to the ability to send and receive information, it's hard to beat the options available with a digital subscriber line. Once ADSL is more widely available, monthly costs are expected to drop into a range that the average consumer can afford. Regional phone companies are also urging a lower price for ADSL so that the technology will be able to compete financially with the cable modem market. Until then, however, most computer users might want to opt for a satellite modem or ISDN line and then wait for the price of a digital subscriber line to fall to a more acceptable level. Multichannel multipoint distribution service is perhaps the most interesting type of high speed access available.