Frequently Asked Questions
High Speed Internet Basics
What is High-Speed Internet?
Where is High-Speed Internet available?
What High-Speed Internet plans are available?
Why are the downstream and upstream speeds different?
What are the advantages of a High Speed Internet connection versus a Dialup Internet connection?
How does High-Speed Internet provide an "always-on" connection?
Can more than one person user the Internet at the same time with High-Speed Internet?
Will I be assigned a dynamic IP each time I sign on?
Can I run my own mail or Web servers with High-Speed Internet?
Are High-Speed Internet speeds guaranteed?
Why isn't High-Speed Internet available to all locations?
Can I still use existing features such as Caller ID, Call Waiting, and Call Forwarding if I also purchase High-Speed Internet?
Is there a charge for professional installation?
What is the difference between High-Speed Internet from Consolidated and Internet service from my local cable company?
Ordering
Who do I contact if I want to order High-Speed Internet?
Are there restrictions to getting Consolidated Communications High-Speed Internet service?
Hardware and Software requirements
What kind of equipment will I need to subscribe to Consolidated Communications' High-Speed Internet?
About DSL
What is DSL?
What is the difference between ADSL, SDSL, DSL and xDSL?
How does the Network know whether I am placing a call or transmitting data?
What does POTS mean and how does it work with ADSL as a newly featured product?
Email and Web Space
Will my account include e-mail and personal web site space? Is a custom domain name included with my High-Speed Internet account?
Computer and Network Security
What can I do to keep my computer and network safe and secure?
High Speed Internet Basics
High-Speed Internet is a technology that provides a dedicated digital circuit between a residence or a business location and Consolidated Communication’s central office. This circuit allows high-speed transport of data over existing copper telephone lines.
Where is High-Speed Internet available?
Consolidated offers High-Speed Internet service throughout most of our service area. Please call toll-free 1.866.989.2255 to check availability.
What High-Speed Internet plans are available?
Click here for information on High-Speed Internet plans.
Why are the downstream and upstream speeds different?
The term "downstream" refers to the speed at which data is downloaded to your computer from the Internet or a network. "Upstream" refers to the speed at which your computer sends data to the Internet or a network. Since most Internet applications require you to download large amounts of data, while sending relatively small amounts of data, most of the bandwidth in High-Speed Internet Service is reserved for downloading information from the Internet or a network.
What are the advantages of a High Speed Internet connection versus a Dialup Internet connection?
Dial up Internet access is a connection that sends data through a common telephone line using a dialup modem. Alternatively, High Speed Internet utilizes much higher, unused frequencies on the same common telephone line. Because High Speed Internet uses much higher frequencies than dial up connectivity, connections can be much faster.
Also, because High Speed Internet does not use the same frequencies as voice traffic, you can use your phone and Internet connection at the same time, on the same phone line.
How does High-Speed Internet provide an "always-on" connection?
High-Speed Internet provides a dedicated connection between your computer and your Internet Service Provider (ISP). This means that there is no need to wait while your computer dials into a network: the Internet is always just a click away.
Can more than one person use the Internet at the same time with High-Speed Internet?
Consolidated Communications provides free home networking equipment to all of our residential customers, which allow for multiple users on the same High-Speed Internet connection.
Will I be assigned a dynamic IP address each time I sign on?
Residential High-Speed Internet accounts are set up with dynamically assigned IP addresses. Each time you restart your computer or after your IP lease has expired, you will be assigned a new IP address. If you require a static IP address, please contact Customer Service toll free at 1.866.989.2255.
Can I run my own mail or Web servers with High-Speed Internet?
Business High-Speed Internet allows you to set up your own mail or Web servers. This process involves registering a custom domain name and setting up domain name services. If you need help registering your custom domain name, please contact our Business Office at 1.800.500.9000.
Are High-Speed Internet speeds guaranteed?
The actual download/upload speeds you experience may be impacted by conditions on the Internet. Consolidated Communications makes every effort to provide connections at our advertised speeds. It is important to note that High- Speed Internet service is provided on a best-effort basis and, as such, does not guarantee a specific upload speed. However, minimum download speeds are guaranteed.
Why isn't High-Speed Internet available to all locations?
High-Speed Internet is available to most Consolidated Communications customers. Because of equipment and network configurations between wire centers and some homes, the service is not available to all locations.
Can I still use existing features such as Caller ID, Call Waiting, and Call Forwarding if I also purchase High-Speed Internet?
Yes. The addition of High-Speed Internet on your existing phone line does not interfere with these features.
Is there a charge for professional installation?
Yes. When ordering High Speed Internet, our Customer Service Representative can discuss professional installation pricing with you.
What is the difference between High-Speed Internet from Consolidated and Internet service from my local cable company?
High-Speed Internet from Consolidated provides always-on, high-speed Internet access over a single dedicated telephone line. Cable modems, on the other hand, offer Internet access over a shared cable television line. While cable modems sometimes have greater downstream bandwidth capabilities, the bandwidth is shared among all users in a neighborhood. Therefore actual speeds will vary, perhaps drastically, as more users in a neighborhood get online at the same time.
In many cases, cable modem upstream traffic is slower than High-Speed Internet, either because the particular cable modem is inherently slower or because too many people in a neighborhood are trying to send or receive data at the same time.
Additionally, because cable modems work over a shared network, users are exposed to greater security risks.
Ordering
Who do I contact if I want to order High-Speed Internet?
Simply call Customer Service at 1.866.989.2255, stop by one of our Communication Centers or click here to email us.
Are there restrictions to getting Consolidated Communications' High-Speed Internet service?
Due to existing technology, there are geographic limitations that impact the availability of Consolidated Communications' High-Speed Internet service. Please contact your local Customer Service office to determine your eligibility.
Hardware and Software requirements:
What kind of equipment will I need to subscribe to Consolidated Communications' High-Speed Internet?
Your High-Speed Internet self-install kit will include everything you need to get up and running. If your computer does not currently have a network interface card, you will be required to purchase and install one before your service will work.
About DSL
DSL stands for high-speed Digital Subscriber Line. DSL is the general term or family name for all DSL products. DSL technologies use high-end modulation processes to pack data, voice, and video onto copper wires. The difference between the various products is in the rate of information transfer, which is based on your distance from the local central office (also known as the "switch") and line frequencies in use.
What is the difference between ADSL, SDSL, DSL, and xDSL?
ADSL is a transport that allows faster flow of information (data, voice, and video) downstream than upstream. SDSL supports one speed regardless of information flow. DSL, also known as xDSL, encompasses products such as ADSL, SDSL, IDSL, HDSL, VDSL, RADSL and many more. Consolidated Communications will provide DSL service using ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) technology.
How does the Network know whether I am placing a call or transmitting data?
The signal used for voice is different than the signal used for data transmission. A device known as a passive splitter or low-pass/high-pass filter is used to separate the POTS and DSL signals onto different pairs (two wires) that eventually are handled by separate Networks.
What does POTS mean and how does it work with ADSL as a newly featured product?
POTS is an acronym for Plain Old Telephone Service. POTS lines, which generally consist of two to four wires, are what we use every day to place phone calls and make analog connections to the Internet. DSL also uses POTS lines for Internet connectivity but with a different method. The difference in transfer speeds and overall functionality of the analog versus DSL does not reside in the line. Instead, the difference in product performance has to do with the difference in the line frequencies used for analog versus DSL (analog uses 3.4 kHz, while DSL uses up to 1.2 MHz), the equipment (analog modem versus an NIC, bridge, and splitter combination), and the Network configuration (circuit switch network versus cell relay network).
Email and Web Space
Will my account include e-mail and personal web site space?
Residential DSL includes ten (10) e-mail accounts and a Personal Web Space account with 100 MB of disk space for uploading content.
Is a custom domain name included with my High-Speed Internet account?
Custom domain names are not included, but are available as an additional service. Contact Consolidated Communications Customer Service Department for details and pricing at 1.866.989.2255.
Computer and Network Security
What can I do to keep my computer and network safe and secure?
Consolidated Communications filters out all non IP traffic for High-Speed Internet customers. However, this does not guarantee the security of your computer o network. Following are some basic steps that can be taken to further protect your computer or network.
- Install and regularly update antivirus software.
- Install firewall software on each computer in your home or office.
- Check for updates for your PC Operating System and for all applications regularly.
- Exercise caution when downloading files from the Internet. Ensure that the source is a legitimate and reputable one. Verify that an anti-virus program checks the files on the download site.
For more information or to sign up, call us toll-free 1.866.989.2255, click here to email us or stop by your local Communication Center.
