Obtaining DSL service for his two businesses "was one of the most frustrating things I’ve ever been through," declares Oliver Martin, president of the accounting firm Spurgeon & Martin and General Personnel Management. "I had to learn the lingo, the technical terms, and I had to deal with several companies and contractors." DSL, short for digital subscriber line, uses a standard copper phone line to provide high-speed, or broadband, access to the Internet. "But it was worth it," Martin quickly adds, "because of the speed and ease with which we’re able to access the Internet." With special software requirements, as well as data file exchanges with his clients, the Internet has become a crucial element in his accounting business. For Martin, the process took about four months and three DSL providers before he got a setup that worked to his satisfaction. After going with first one, then a second statewide provider, he ultimately went with San Diego-based CTSnet because he got better service, he says. The difficulties he faced in upgrading his Internet access from dial-up modems to a high-speed, broadband connection are not unusual, it turns out, because several components make the high bandwidth connection functional. What Martin and others have learned is that they can’t simply call a service provider, whether it is for DSL, cable, or a more sophisticated option using fiber optics, order the service and have it magically happen. A new telephone line was required, a router had to be installed in his local area network, a proxy server had to be set up, the computers needed new software and had to be reconfigured, and the connection between the DSL provider and his network had to be made. This required dealing with a half-dozen separate companies and contractors. Because he doesn’t employ an information technology specialist or network administrator, he needed a contractor who specializes in computer networks and systems integration. Moving from a 56 kilobit per second analog modem to a digital, broadband service is the biggest and perhaps most painful step in upgrading Internet access, acknowledges Dale Stein, president of San Diego-based INET, a network and systems integration service recently acquired by Pac-West Telecomm. "A modem-based system does not have the ability to transition to high bandwidth without changing the product line," Stein says. This means relegating those pokey modems to museum status and replacing them with a router, which serves as an electronic traffic cop for your office's computer network. "But most routers are modular, and once installed you can easily take the system from 128 kbps to a T-1 (1.5 mbps)," Stein adds. For larger businesses, it may make more sense to obtain all telecommunications services — "bundled services" — from one company, he says. Besides dealing with just one company for installation and service, it may reduce the overall cost of telephone and Internet services. Consider Growth Growth also must be factored into the equation when choosing a broadband provider. Tres Conrique, president of Rancho Santa Fe Technology, advises business owners to look for one that can increase capacity relatively painlessly. He learned this lesson the hard way, as his business expanded from a single office in San Diego to multiple offices in California and Arizona. RSFT stepped up from using a dial-up modem to DSL to a full T-1 — providing a data transfer rate of 1.5 megabits per second — at its main office. But when he needed the bigger pipeline to the Internet, he had to find a new provider. "While that did go smoothly, it was a huge inconvenience," he says. "You have to change computer addresses, and security issues changed. We decided that going forward, we were only going to look at providers who could increase access without having to change services." Choices To Be Made DSL service doesn’t necessarily require an additional phone line. Using what’s known as a splitter, voice, fax and data can share the same line. This is a good option for a home office or a small business connecting a single computer to the Internet, says Drew Armbruster, associate director in product management for Pacific Bell parent SBC Communications Inc. Not all providers offer this service, however. In addition, comparing this to a dedicated DSL line is not comparing apples to apples, says Mark Butler of CTSnet. "We use a different type of DSL than the phone company does, and our packages are a little different," he explains. "DSL gives you a fast connection, but if the ISP can’t support that speed through its connection to the Internet backbone, you haven't gained much." Local cable TV companies also offer broadband service in roughly the same price range — $80 to $200 a month for a small business, depending on the level of service and the number of computers tied into the system. Cox Cable's Cox@Home Internet service has about 1,000 business customers, including the Lemon Grove School District. Time Warner's Road Runner service claims roughly 800 business customers. However, the availability of cable, which is typically several times faster than DSL, is limited, because the network originally was designed to serve residential neighborhoods. The network can be extended to reach commercial buildings, but unless you’re a heavy user, you’re likely to be asked to help pay for it. That can have a price tag well into four figures. And as Oliver Martin found out, even though DSL uses standard copper phone lines, it’s not available in all areas either. He had to install a satellite system to get broadband service to his home. Network Security Nor is choosing a router a simple matter. While a low-end router can be purchased at local electronics stores for under $400, it may not be adequate for your needs. The number of computers on the network and the amount of traffic are factors that must be weighed. But the most critical factor is security. Any router will provide a basic firewall between your network and the Internet, but if you need greater protection from digital pirates, you may need a more sophisticated device. An inexpensive hub can be used as a bridge between your network and the DSL or cable modem if just a handful of computers are being connected, but it is inefficient and can slow down a busy network. Plus, there is no level of security isolating the network from the Internet, says SBC's Armbruster. He also explains that it’s quite common to find businesses using older computers that need major software upgrades to utilize broadband services. This is something that needs to be done before the Internet service is installed. And that, says Mike Madonich, a senior service technician for Inacom Information Systems, presents another specter to business owners. Inacom coordinates Road Runner installations. Two things cause major problems during this process — insufficient space on computer hard drives and the failure to back up computer files. These issues should be addressed before upgrading computers and installing broadband service, he says. "If there's one thing I can say, it’s that people must be responsible for backing up their own files," he says emphatically. Bottom Line Upgrading from dial-up modems to broadband Internet access can be a frustrating, time consuming experience. But advance planning and preparation can take many of the lumps and bumps out of the process. (Next month: Bundling telecommunications services may allow you do "one-stop shopping.") Larry M Edwards is a new-media consultant and the author of the "Official Netscape Internet Business Starter Kit." He may be reached online at: larry@larryedwards.com and www.larryedwards.com.

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