Infinity AccessNET DSL FAQ

Introduction

Support & Availability

Charges & Requirements

DSL Service Features

Further Information




Introduction

What is DSL?
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology provides voice and high-speed data telecommunications over a single analog telephone line. The DSL technology being deployed in some of Infinity AccessNET's service areas is called RADSL (rate adaptive digital subscriber line technology) which is able to adapt to differing line conditions and distances and adjust transmission speeds to maximize the efficiency of the data transmission under varying changes in line quality. This RADSL service is currently available only from Qwest.

What's the benefit of DSL?
The data transmission speeds capable with DSL technologies are from 9 to 22 times faster than a 28.8 Kbps modem. DSL is useful where high-speed digital data connections from one location to another are needed.

Applications include telecommuting, desktop video conferencing, distance learning, and high-speed Internet access through Infinity AccessNET for your home or business. Browsing the world wide web has never been faster for many.

What DSL data transmission speeds are available for Internet access from Infinity AccessNET using Megabit services from Qwest?
In Minneapolis/St. Paul, where DSL is available, the following service levels are available from Qwest and supported by Infinity AccessNET Internet Service:
For Dedicated unlimited service for you network, we offer:
For measured service for your PC or small office, we offer:

Support & Availability

Is DSL service available everywhere?
No, many telephone companies do not offer this service and those that do only offer it in limited locations at this time.

Does Infinity AccessNET support DSL Internet access?
Infinity AccessNET supports the DSL services available through Qwest in certain geographic locations for high-speed Internet access to individual computers at residential locations as well as to LANs (local area networks) in office locations. Corporate connections for LANs and WANs (wide area networks) are also supported.

Where in Infinity AccessNET's service areas is DSL available?
Infinity AccessNET supports DSL in parts of the Twin Cities, Minnesota where Qwest is deploying its Megabit services. Other outlying areas are sure to follow as this technology becomes more widely available.

Is DSL service available in all of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota?
No. DSL service is only available to locations within 18,000 feet (about three miles) of the closest telephone company facility, which supports DSL. This range is wire distance, not as the crow flies. Even if you are within the proper distance, there may be other factors that prevent you from receiving DSL. For example, your telephone service may pass through telephone company equipment that prevents DSL connections from working, such as bridge taps, loading coils, splitters, wire of different gauge, and DLC equipment (DLC is a fiber-to-the neighborhood transport technology that is often used to provide phone service to newer housing developments and business parks. DLC equipment prevents DSL service from working.)

If you want to use DSL service, your loop (your analog phone line) must be qualified by Qwest to determine if they provide DSL service to your location. To have your loop qualified, contact us at 952-944-7123.

When can Infinity AccessNET Internet deliver DSL services to customers who are loop qualified?
Infinity AccessNET currently has the facilities to deliver DSL Internet access. The rate limiting step in how long it will take you to have DSL service up and running is always the installation of the megabit services from Qwest. You will typically never be waiting because of an issue with Infinity AccessNET.

How do I sign up for this service?
STEP 1: Determine which DSL service you are interested in:
Measured -- targeted at home users or small businesses. If you are interested in this service, continue to STEP 2 below.
Dedicated Unlimited -- Connects Local Area Networks (LANs) to the Internet. If you are interested in this service, contact Infinity AccessNET's Network sales department, or review the details of our Dedicated Unlimited service online

STEP 2: Determine if you can get the service in your area. Visit Qwest's Availability page. Enter the telephone number of the location where you want to get the service and click the Check Availability button. If you learn that the service is available in your location, call the number listed on the Qwest page to determine if your phone line qualifies. If it does, and you want to sign up, tell the Qwest representative. He/she will ask if you have a preferred ISP. Select Infinity AccessNET. Qwest will give you a scheduled install date. If you have any difficulty with Qwest or would like advice on availability, call us at 952-944-7123. Continue to STEP 3 below.

If you find that DSL service is not available in your area or for your phone line, and you have further questions, please call the number listed on the Qwest page.

STEP 3: If you want to order measured DSL service from Infinity AccessNET, please complete the our Measured DSL Service Request Form. If you have further questions about our DSL offering before you are ready to sign up, please read through the rest of this FAQ or review our Measured DSL service offering.


Charges & Requirements

How much are the Qwest and Infinity AccessNET charges for DSL?
See our Business DSL Services page or Home DSL Page for DSL connections and Internet access pricing information. Check Qwest's site for current charges and current promotions.


What equipment is required to use DSL for Internet access?
Single computers need an ADSL PCI Modem Adapter to connect to DSL service. Qwest's package, called the SpeedRunner PCI, sells for $199.

Single computers with 10Base-T or 100Base-T Ethernet adapters or small office LANs need ADSL routers. Qwest's package, called the Cisco 675 with Ethernet NIC, sells for $299.

Check Qwest's site for heavily discounted DSL hardware to customers and other promotions.

Customers who order DSL service from Qwest and use Infinity AccessNET Internet Services for their Internet access still qualify for the discounted equipment promotions.


NOTE: Qwest prices and free offers are subject to change without notice.

Do I need another phone line to get DSL services?
No. You do not need to purchase another phone line. DSL technology uses an existing phone line to transmit data signals as well as analog voice signals. The customer must continue to pay the current charges for residential or business phone service. Phone service is not included in the price of DSL services. It is important to note that the phone line must be billed to you directly from Qwest, not other resellers or providers such as Frontier, or Ovation Communications.

Is there a per minute or per hour charge for DSL from the phone company for connect time or from Infinity AccessNET for Internet access?
DSL is a full-time, dedicated connection. Similar to a leased line or frame relay connection, there are no per minute charges from the telephone company. Infinity AccessNET DSL Internet access plans have no connect time restrictions; they are priced according to transmission speeds and network usage outside of Infinity AccessNET's network. (For more information about network usage, see the following topics.)

What does measured data transfer mean?
Since DSL service is logically a full-time, dedicated connection, Infinity AccessNET measured Internet access plan using a DSL connection is unlimited in the amount of monthly connect time included, but it is limited to 2000MB of data transfer usage per month. If you visit well-designed Web sites and are careful about how much software you download off the Web, you probably won't exceed the 2000MB limit during a month. As an example, you would have to visit Infinity AccessNET's home page more than 980 times every day of the month to exceed the 2000MB limit.

Why do you measure data transfer with your service?
Infinity AccessNET Internet's primary business goal is to be the highest quality provider in our service areas while offering competitive pricing. To continue offering the quality of service that you've come to expect from Infinity AccessNET, we cannot offer unlimited network usage for $25/month at the higher speeds that DSL provides. If you do need dedicated unlimited service, we offer dedicated unlimited access plans.

How did you arrive at 2000MB of network usage each month?
We based this figure on the statistical usage patterns of over 10 million Internet users as well as extensive research from Gartner Group and Dataquest and our own customer usage data. We feel that our measured DSL offering will provide ample service to most customers at a very low monthly cost.

How can I monitor my network usage?
You will be able to monitor your current network usage with a web-based report in our Subscriber's Toolbox. Until this report is available, you will not be charged for any overages.

If you exceed 2000MB during a month, your account will be charged $30 for each additional block of 1000MB of data transferred

NOTE: As you use this service during its initial release, keep in mind that metering will be implemented sometime in the future. We won't be responsible if you become accustomed to a level of network usage that is above the monthly limit and you are required to reduce your usage when the metering is implemented.


DSL Service Features

What do I get with my measured DSL account?
You get:
What do I get with my dedicated unlimited DSL account?
You get:
How many hours of access do Infinity AccessNET's DSL offerings provide or are they unlimited?
Infinity AccessNET's DSL Internet access plans offer unlimited time on line since the connections are dedicated, permanent connections. Infinity AccessNET's DSL Internet access plans are differentiated by the speed of the DSL service, and whether the service is measured or dedicated unlimited.

Does DSL replace my current dial up access?
Yes, if you always plan to connect from the location where the DSL service is installed. In other words, if you only have DSL access, you cannot connect to the Internet when you are traveling. For an additional $70 per quarter, an Infinity AccessNET Internet dial up account can be part of your DSL service.

Can more than one computer be accessing the Internet at the same time with a single DSL connection?
Depending on the equipment used to connect the DSL service at the customer's location, one or more computers can be connected to the Internet at the same time. Infinity AccessNET has DSL Internet access plans to address all of your requirements.

Can DSL replace frame relay connections for high-speed Internet access?
Yes, DSL can replace frame relay and point-to-point leased communications circuits for Internet access at several different transmission speeds. Customers using frame relay connections which do not have multiple virtual circuits defined and are in locations where DSL is available should analyze the costs of both services to determine which is best for their business. In most cases, different network equipment, such as routers, may be required to switch from frame relay to DSL.

Infinity AccessNET can assist our customers in making this decision. Infinity AccessNET will also assist potential customers who have frame relay Internet access from another Internet service provider to determine if they can save on their telecommunications costs by subscribing to one of Infinity AccessNET DSL Internet access plans.

Are there any security implications to DSL?
Yes, there are security implications in connecting to any public network, and DSL users have some additional concerns. DSL is a "bridged environment", which means that the users of this service share the same network environment. If your computer is part of a network (such as a LAN or WAN) or if you have certain networking settings configured, your hard drive could be available to other DSL users when you are connected to the service.

You can configure your computer's networking software to use DSL in a secure manner. For most home users, who don't have multiple computers, the drive sharing options can generally be turned off. If your computer is part of a LAN or WAN, your network administrator can configure the permissions on the shared drives so you can continue to operate safely.

The network settings on your computer relate directly to the configuration of your network. Unless this network was installed by Infinity AccessNET, we know very little about its configuration. For this reason, our customer support staff cannot make specific recommendations on how you should operate DSL in a safe environment. If you have DSL and you want to make sure you are operating safely, we offer consulting in this area.

Further Information

Where can I find more information about DSL technology?

Cisco -- the RADSL equipment offered by Qwest
Qwest -- Megabit Services

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