Pinching Pennies with DSL
Though good cheap DSL is rare and free DSL non-existent, there are many ways to defray the monthly cost of DSL, which is the next best thing to cheap internet access. By conducting business of any sort online, you can write off your DSL internet rates at business expenses. Also, if you earn more online monthly than you spend, then even the least cheap DSL rates pay for themselves. Finally, if your home or business is located near a non-profit organization, you can offer to share your DSL service with them at no charge, which makes your DSL service, fees a tax-deductible donation.
Making the Most of Cheap DSL
If you do find a good cheap DSL broadband service, it may limit your hours online, or charge your heavily for going over a certain amount of time online or data downloaded. A good strategy for getting around these restrictions is to supplement your DSL connection with a cheap internet access through a dial-up connection. Though slower than a DSL connection, dial-up can be used for low-data tasks like checking email, or getting a weather update. By saving the DSL for downloading large files, or bidding in the closing seconds of an online auction, you can get much of the DSL service for a cheap internet access fee overall.
Free DSL
More cheap DSL tips: There was once a time, in the mid to late 1990's, when several businesses sprang up offering free internet service. The only catch was a small window full of their sponsors' ads would be open whenever you surfed the internet. This fad lasted a few years, before sponsors abandoned the companies after they realized no revenue from these ads. Since 2001, free dial-up services have been very rare, free DSL non-existent. Any free DSL offer you receive is at best a bait and switch, and at worst an attempt to defraud you.
Cheap DSL Service Providers
Outside the big names in the telecommunications industry are smaller companies that have less range and features, but due to lower operating expenses, can offer cheap DSL. Sometimes these companies have unusual requirements in their DSL agreements, such as spending a certain amount of time looking at ad sites they give you, and they may feature long commitment periods and very heavy early cancellation fees. Support is often unreliable from these smaller providers, so be sure to study up well on any service offering you what seems like unbelievably cheap DSL rates. You can get a good deal from a cheap DSL service provider, but remember, there is no such thing as a free lunch.
Finding Cheap DSL from Other Sources
If you're looking for high-speed internet access that's inexpensive or free, try a local library or internet cafe. Libraries generally offer free DSL speed internet, though they may limit the time you can use one of their computers for. This is perfect for occasional uses that require broadband, such as reading a large file from your email, or downloading a song to your personal media player. Internet cafes are not free, but offer cheap DSL-speed connections, and often for longer periods of time. This is great if you need the internet for hours at a time, but only once or twice a month.
About Cheap DSL
Cheap DSL tips: Most providers lowest priced packages are around 40 dollars a month, which is a bit steep for something many people consider a luxury. Still, most companies' highest priced DSL and broadband packages soar well above a hundred dollars a month. So you could call 40 dollars a month "cheap DSL." Though some introductory rates are very cheap, DSL service providers still need to turn a profit at the end of the day, so don't let yourself be entirely sold on a cheap internet access through DSL at below 40 dollars a month.
Sharing Cheap DSL
Another way to get cheap internet access is to share. Because advanced pieces of DSL hardware like DSL routers and DSL wireless hubs can take a single signal and distribute it to many people, try talking to your roommates, housemates or people in neighboring apartments. If everyone chips in, that 40 dollars a month can be reduced dramatically, leaving you with very cheap DSL rates. Though your DSL speed will be lower, and you may have to find a way to divvy out other DSL incentives like email addresses, it is still a vast improvement over dialup.
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