A New Tune Broadband providers and PC vendors say they'll address service and performance problems in the near future. But the biggest improvements in service could come from technologies that reduce the number of visits technicians need to make. Instead, some customers can attach one or more small filters to their phone cords. According to Bell Atlantic's Rasmussen, up to 85 percent of all Infospeed DSL installations don't require a splitter. And when new USB versions of DSL and cable modems arrive later this year, some users will be able to avoid the second visit from technicians.
Some retailers already offer hardware and service bundles to ease installation.
At select CompUSA locations, you can now enter your phone number in a kiosk to determine whether service is available in your area. You can order service and buy a modem on the spot, and then attempt to install it yourself. New setup software designed to ease user headaches is rolling out, too. For example, in October BroadJump announced that it had developed software designed to streamline installation. The software includes troubleshooting tools to help users install the modems and resolve their own service problems.