Access to fast Internet grows

Published 12:00 am Friday, July 6, 2001

Albert Lea residents sick of waiting on their Internet connection now have another option: Plug into cable.

Friday, July 06, 2001

Albert Lea residents sick of waiting on their Internet connection now have another option: Plug into cable.

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Charter Communications began offering high-speed cable Internet connections this spring, enabling customers to download information up to 100 times faster than conventional phone line modems, said representative Paige Cain.

For a $39.95 monthly fee, Charter provides customers with the cable modem, Internet provider and service. Users don’t have to subscribe to regular cable to get the service, but have to be in a serviceable area, Cain said.

&uot;If we can’t give you cable, then we can’t give you cable Internet,&uot; she said.

Kids who want to play on interactive Web sites, adult telecommuters, and people who are just impatient with their service will love the speed of cable Internet, Cain said.

&uot;It’s useful for anyone who is impatient waiting for files to download,&uot; she said.

The connection doesn’t tie up the phone line, other people in the house can still watch cable TV when someone is on the Internet, and images that used to take minutes to download take only seconds, she said.

&uot;There is a significant difference,&uot; she said.

In Albert Lea, more than 250 residents have signed up for the service. Charter expects to have the service available for area businesses by the end of the summer, she said.

For more information on Charter Communications cable Internet service, call 1-800-581-0081, or look them up at www.charter.com.