[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Before you invest your money in DSL, I
> would at least look at a cable modem. Cable is typically just a wee
> bit faster, plus you get the flexibility of changing telcos if you
> find a telco you like better. PAT]
Since the original poster is in Ottawa, I'm guessing his cable provider is Rogers and his telco is Bell Canada. Those two companies have been offering practically identical speed/price packages, every move by one matched by the other and, historically, (IMNSHO) Bell's network has had a better reputation. Perhaps more importantly, not very long ago Rogers experienced a customer relations fiasco as a result of disconnecting the alleged highest-bandwidth customers in areas where they received performance complaints, despite protests by some of the disconnected users that they curtailed or even discon- tinued their internet use immediately after receiving a warning. Disconnecting users for allegedly violating undefinable bandwidth caps and other past faux pas earn Rogers dead last place on my list of potential providers and a "wee bit faster" connection isn't going to change that.
It is also worth noting that, if the original poster decides to go DSL, he can choose from many comapnies offering different prices and options. For example, after paying Bell Sympatico $10/month modem rental fee for several years I bought my own and switched to Primus Canada, who charge about the same as Bell Sympatico minus the $10/month modem rental fee for the same connection speed; over two years later, I'm way ahead and satisfied with Primus. There are cheaper providers, and providers with more features (e.g. fixed IP address without paying for business-class service) if you want.
Canadians looking for internet access can use
In theory, Canadian regulations permit you to mix and match telcos and DSL providers (as long as both wholesale the subscriber loop or the DSL infrastructure from Bell Canada), though I have yet to hear stories of this happeneing smoothly.
Geoffrey Welsh Never leave until tomorrow what can wait until next week.