If you can get AT&T in your area, you can also get companies like Earthlink, because they contract with the line carrier to provide their service. Find out what Earthlink would charge, then work backwards and ask AT&T if they charge the same or less.

Usually they send you the first modem free, or you can buy a package at a local big box store and there is a rebate or something to bring the cost way down. You should buy your own router, don't lease one, and get your own network cards if you're doing wireless in the house. The less you can lease from those folks the better. I had a modem stolen when the house was burglarized and wasn't having any luck getting the type that Earthlink wanted me to use, so I finally got Earthlink to sell me one of their modems for $50.

The person who comes to install the modem is going to be sure the line isn't too noisy and is probably going to tell you to put filters on your other phones, unless you have a filter put in at the point where the line enters the house and you have a dedicated DSL line (I do). The installer is basically there to do the job because so many computer users are unfamiliar with the equipment and will call customer service many times when they don't get it right.

Somehow I don't think this will a problem for John in Kansas.

SRS