US Cable/Internet - Can I get a non-default provider?

[Koinek]

After plugging in about 300 combinations of "alternative internet provider" and "I dont want to use Comcast" into Bing (screw Google ) and coming up short, I turn to the TrekBBS Misc. Hivemind for some suggestions.

I'm moving to a new apartment in Chicago and I need to set up my cable/internet. The only options provided by default at AT&T (phone/DSL) and Comcast (cable TV/internet). I really don't want to use either company but I can't really think of an alternative. Halp!

 

[OmahaStar]

What's your new zip code?

 

[Michael Chris]

There might be a way if there is an alternative internet available (if FiOS or similar is available), but for the most part you're pretty much stuck with those.

 

[TheBrew]

Your alternative is to get internet through a cell phone company (as they offer mobile hi-speed), but the plans you will get have a cap at 4G I believe.

 

[Cakes488]

Isn't there a forum for techinical issues? I hate these fuckin threads. These are the only threads that I can't weasel my way into.

 

[Koinek]

^ This isn't really a technical issue. I need some advice finding providers.

Hey OmahaStar, I'm sorry but I don't really want to give out my zipcode online (privacy issue, especially since TBBS no longer prunes). I'll just say that I live on the south side. If there is a website or some such you know to check services by zipcodes, I'd appreciate if you could send it over.

 

[Mallory]

There's always dial-up.

 

[Koinek]

^

 

[TheBrew]

There's always dial-up.

Not cool, man, not cool.

 

[Mallory]

Well, to be honest that's my emergency fallback when Comcast is out. It's just enough to email every one and let them know I'm offline for a while. And the account is less than $10/month.

If I couldn't (or didn't want to) use Comcast or Verizon FiOS, then I guess signing up with a wireless service would be the only other reasonable alternative, although that's pretty pricey where I live.

 

[OmahaStar]

^ This isn't really a technical issue. I need some advice finding providers.

Hey OmahaStar, I'm sorry but I don't really want to give out my zipcode online (privacy issue, especially since TBBS no longer prunes). I'll just say that I live on the south side. If there is a website or some such you know to check services by zipcodes, I'd appreciate if you could send it over.

Hi. Sorry, "south side" doesn't mean anything to me. I have a tool that tells me providers by zip code, but it's an internal work tool, I couldn't give a link. So instead, I'll just say good luck and let you do your own research.

 

[OmahaStar]

Well, to be honest that's my emergency fallback when Comcast is out. It's just enough to email every one and let them know I'm offline for a while. And the account is less than $10/month.

I haven't used dial-up in years, but I wonder, does net zero still exist? They offered a free dial-up service, nationwide, up to I think it was 40 hours per month. It's not much, but if you're only using it to email people and say you're offline, it should be more than sufficient ... and that's 120 bucks a year you could spend on me instead.

 

[Timby]

This works, too.

 

[Mallory]

I haven't used dial-up in years, but I wonder, does net zero still exist? They offered a free dial-up service, nationwide, up to I think it was 40 hours per month. It's not much, but if you're only using it to email people and say you're offline, it should be more than sufficient ... and that's 120 bucks a year you could spend on me instead.

Yeah, they're still around but I'm pretty sure they dropped the free plan a couple of years ago. I'll check it out though.

 

[Teelie]

There are just too many monopolies on internet to provide a real alternative to one of the big ones. You might be able to find a smaller one but they often lease their internet access from one of the bigger companies so you're still using them but indirectly. It sucks.

 

[RoJoHen]

I'm fairly certain Comcast owns all of the Chicago and the surrounding suburbs these days, so you might be screwed.

 

[Drogo]

You could try local phone land line companies about DSL. In some parts of the country, local independent phone companies have distribution rights over the mega priced cable companies.