ISP Review: Top Rated Providers

When Associated Content published a content call for Internet service provider reviews, I thought that it would be a good idea to provide other content producers and readers of Associated Content with some information on the top ISPs by category or class.

According to ConsumerSearch.com, a great source of consumer product reviews, the best Internet service provider for fiber-optic broadband service is Verizon's FiOS. ConsumerSearch's extensive product research reveals that, while not available in all areas, FiOS consistently gets the highest customer satisfaction and speed scores in major surveys of Internet service providers. The cost is about $45 per month, but you get download speeds of 15Mbps, which is significantly higher than the 3Mbps to 6Mbps you get with cable or DSL. For those customers who don't need the high rate of data transfer offered in the 15Mbps package, Verizon also has a 5Mbps subscription. Or, if you need even more speed than the standard package, you can sign up for the 30Mbps package. But beware, that kind of speed will cost you nearly $200 per month.

For the best cable broadband Internet service provider, check into the availability of Earthlink in your area. Earthlink is a major provider of all levels of Internet service, so odds are you will be able to access their feeds no matter where you may live. Earthlink received the highest ratings for cable Internet providers, and scored well in customer satisfaction and reliability. Speed rated at 6Mbps, the Earthlink cable modem is usually offered free of charge if you subscribe.

If you are looking for an Internet service provider that offers DSL, BellSouth gets the highest ratings for reliability and overall customer satisfaction. DSL is generally slower than cable, and BellSouth's DSL service is speed rated at about 1.5Mbps. For a little bit more money, about $40 per month, you can get a faster package from BellSouth rated at 3Mbps. While cable gives you faster downloads, DSL can save you a bit of money with speeds that are still faster than any dial-up service.