| Families use the internet to access personal email | | | | Types of Broadband Connectionso DSL (Digital |
| and surf social networking websites. Students at | | | | Subscriber Line) - transmission technology that |
| colleges and universities go onto the World Wide | | | | uses a wireline to transmit data quickly through |
| Web to register for courses and research | | | | traditional copper telephone lines that are already |
| information for classes. Employees at many | | | | being used at homes and businesses. DSL access |
| companies stay in touch with clients, customers | | | | is available in most areas that are served by a |
| and coworkers via meetings and conference calls | | | | telephone company facility but some rural and |
| conducted over the internet. In order for people | | | | newly-developed areas aren't accessible by local |
| to use the internet, they must have a way to | | | | companies and have to use other means to |
| access it. | | | | access the internet.o Cable - cable modems allow |
| Today, companies known as internet service | | | | cable companies to deliver broadband internet |
| providers (ISP's) most commonly provide this | | | | service through the same coaxial cables that |
| access in the form of broadband internet service. | | | | provide cable television to televisions. The |
| How is broadband different from the traditional | | | | modems connect to the cable line on one end |
| dial-up service? | | | | while the other side connects to the computer. |
| In terms of speed, broadband is superior to | | | | The speed is comparable to that of a DSL |
| dial-up service because it provides a higher speed | | | | connection and the user can still watch cable TV |
| of data transmission. This allows more content to | | | | while using the internet.o Fiber (fiber optic) - |
| be transmitted in a shorter amount of time. | | | | converts electrical data signals to light and sends it |
| Broadband also allows users to access high quality | | | | through transparent glass fibers that are about |
| internet services such as VoIP (internet phone), | | | | the size of a human hair. The speed varies but it |
| streaming music and videos, internet gaming, and | | | | can be very fast and can provide VoIP and video |
| other interactive services. Dial-up service is | | | | services simultaneously. Fiber optic technology is |
| considered by most to be technically obsolete and | | | | fairly new, and most companies plan to expand |
| may not be able to handle the large amounts of | | | | their networks in order to offer bundled services |
| data and speed that these services require. | | | | to consumers.o Wireless - uses a radio link to |
| This can result in slow movement, "freezing" of | | | | connect users to the internet, and service can be |
| the application being run, and a computer can | | | | fixed to a location or used as a mobile connection |
| even crash or malfunction due to the stress | | | | with laptop computers and cell phones. People |
| carried by the connection. Broadband connections | | | | who require service in rural areas often use |
| also maintain a constant connection to the internet | | | | wireless internet service to access the internet. |
| without blocking phone lines, which means that a | | | | Wireless connections are widely available in public |
| user can make a phone call with the line while still | | | | settings such as airports, bookstores, restaurants |
| surfing the internet. Dial-up connections usually | | | | and parks. One popular form of a wireless |
| block phone lines or disconnect when a phone call | | | | connection is wireless fidelity, or "Wi-Fi. |
| is received. | | | | |