On Mon, 7 Mar 2005, Josh Welch wrote:

>> When you have cable internet, you can not choose your own isp.
>
> Sorry, but I have to pick this nit. Using Time Warner cable you can currently
> choose either RoadRunner or Earthlink as your ISP. I believe that Comcast is
> not offering people the option of an alternative ISP.

I'm curious what the difference is...is it just a branding/added service 
thing, or are you actually being routed directly onto Earthlink's network 
(rather than RR's) after you hit the cable facility.  And if so, what is 
that connection.

For instance, when you choose "MSN" as your ISP with Qwest DSL, you are 
using Qwest's IP backbone.  There is no hand-off to MSN (IIRC).  The only 
difference is cosmetic (like e-mail).  Just as when you buy an MSN 
dial-up, you are using (mostly) UU.net dial-up numbers, and are routed to 
the internet over UU's network.

Even so...ala South Park, it always comes down to choosing between a tvnag 
qbhpur naq n gheq fnaqjuvpu.

But to answer some of the questions from this thread...

Choosing your own ISP with Qwest DSL means you're actually connected to 
that ISP's network.  Your DSL connection is routed over Qwest's ATM to 
your ISP, and your ISP provides transit to the Internet.  Qwest just 
pushes ATM cells back and forth - your ISP provides authentication and 
IP's.

The speed that the DSL modems connect at is controlled by Qwest - that is 
your speed through Qwest's ATM network.  As long as your ISP has 
sufficient pipe into Qwest's ATM, you will always get that connect speed 
between you and your ISP.  The per-MBit charge for the ISP's ATM 
connection into Qwest is almost insignificant (after you're already paying 
for the loop that is), and I would imagine that most local ISP's have more 
than enough pipe in that regard.

There is real benefit in being able to choose your own, local ISP.  But 
this is a right that's in jeopardy, currently in other states but coming 
soon to Minnesota.  I fear for the future when my choices for a 
residential-class high-speed service are Qwest or Comcast (aka Dumb and 
Dumber).

"Even so...ala South Park, it always comes down to choosing between a 
tvnag qbhpur naq n gheq fnaqjuvpu."