The Early Show

All About Broadband

By Steve Pearson

February 19, 2002 / 4:50 PM EST / CBS

Broadband -- or high-speed Internet access -- is one of the fastest growing technology trends, to the tune of 21 million homes across the United States. Usage nearly doubled in 2001 and is picking up steam. High-speed access is now available nationwide. So, what is it? And how do you know if you have a need for speed? AOL Online Adviser Regina Lewis, author of "Wired in a Week," visits The Saturday Early Show this weekend with some information.

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How does it work?
The whole concept refers to the means by which you "connect" to the Internet. For most people today, it's a traditional phone line or a "narrow band" connection. A "broadband" connection is "broader," enabling more "bits" of information to cross simultaneously and hence, faster. Think of it as the difference between a garden hose and a fire hose. And what it really means is -- the file, photo or song that normally would take several minutes to download, will now take a matter of seconds.

How much faster are we talking?
A broadband connection is generally about 50 times faster, and that means everything is faster -- downloading email attachments, songs, photos, shopping, etc. If you are online at work on a high-speed connection, you may be familiar with the speed and the rate at which you can do things, like research and planning travel online, with the pages popping up almost instantly. For instance, I speak to a lot of people who say, "I end up doing my online shopping at work because it's so much faster." Now, you can have that same speed at home.

Who's a candidate for high-speed access?
I'd argue that any household that's spending a combined total of more than an hour a day online is a candidate for broadband. A couple of key reasons: You don't have to repeatedly "dial in." You walk right up to the computer, type in your password and boom, you're instantly on. It's the equivalent of walking into your family room and turning on the TV.

You can also use your computer and talk on the phone at the same time, because you're not tying up the phone line. Interestingly, studies show that people who get high-speed access immediately spend 23 percent more time online… Certainly if you're into music, digital photography and games or if you are running a small business out of your home, it's a "mst."

There are several different kinds of "broadband." There are primarily three kinds of high-speed connection options. They provide a different means to the same end. And the truth is depending on where you live, you may not have an option. So, at this stage, where you live is the single biggest factor in determining which option to go with.

CABLE: High-speed cable access taps into the cable lines that currently deliver cable TV to homes. I know what you're thinking: "Can I still watch cable TV?" The short answer is: "Of course!" Without getting too technical, information travels over the cable wires at different frequencies -- one frequency for the TV and one for the PC, and if I didn't tell you that, you'd never notice. From the consumer's vantage point, it's totally seamless.
DSL (digital subscriber line) transforms traditional copper telephone wires into vehicles for also delivering high-speed access. Again, multiple frequencies are used. A "router" (about the same size as a cable modem) is placed next to your computer.
SATELLITE: You've heard of Direct TV. This is Direct PC. It's still a fairly new technology, but if you live in a rural area it might be your only option.

Where should people start and how long do you have to wait?
In most markets, it takes about a week for the cable or phone company to get to your home. In the case of DSL, you may be sent a self-installation kit. You can call your cable or phone company directly and make the arrangements or work through your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and they'll handle it for you. One of the easiest ways to jumpstart the process is to check out the high-speed offerings your ISP has and order online. If you order through your existing ISP, they'll handle getting the cable or phone company there for you.

If you decide to go for high-speed access, look for these three things:

Customer Service: Stick with the big players who have customer service, so it's there if and when you need it.
Parental Controls: In a broadband environment, it's never been more important to make sure you have the proper security in place for your kids.
Local Access: Your high-speed access will be specific to your home. So make sure there's a "roaming" option as part of your plan, so you can still log on (albeit possibly at slower speeds) when you're traveling. You don't want to be visiting a family member or stuck in a hotel and not be able to log on.

No matter how you slice it, all of this comes at a price. How much are we talking?
The installation is about $100. But this is as a good a time as ever to get in the game, because some companies are waiving the installation charge. They may also be offering a free 30-day trial or discounts on other services (like additional HBO channels), so be sure to take advantage of that.

From there, your high-speed connection wil cost about $30 additional per month. Right now, generally people are paying about $20 for narrow band, so the total will be about $50. Now, keep in mind, you won't need a second phone line, which generally runs about $20, so there's not a significant incremental cost once you get up and running.

Again, most people find they get more than their money's worth because they're doing more online -- both in terms of the total time spent online and the pace of their activity. In addition, once you have high-speed access, you'll be able to tap into free premium content for high-speed members like exclusive music offerings, video news, movie and sports clips, backstage webcasts at the Oscars and Grammys ... those kinds of neat things that lend themselves and are enhanced by high-speed access.

What's the most common mistake?
When people say they want "speed," often what they're really saying is they want to do what they're already doing -- only faster. They don't want to change their email address, they don't want to relearn everything. Sometimes people think you have to make across-the-board changes, and you don't. So, start with your existing ISP and see what high-speed options they have. Then you'll get the service you're familiar with and the speed you're looking for without having to re-do anything.

Where do you think this is all headed?
From a technology standpoint, broadband is arguably one of the most significant breakthroughs in the evolution of the Internet. It also sets the stage for home networking -- where multiple people can be logged on at once (you and the kids) and the digital household of the future when your Internet connection is as integral and seamless as electricity. When you turn on a light, you don't think, "I just tapped into the electrical grid." Moving forward when you walk up to your computer or whatever connected device (and there are all kinds of exciting things in the works), tapping into the Internet will be as simple and natural as flicking the light switch.