[Page 1: Before you call]  [Page 2: How do you choose an ISP?]  [Page 3: What is a standard account?]

How many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are there?

In Santa Cruz County, we have always had more choice in Internet Service providers than many other parts of the country. A few of your options are listed below. Each name is a link to the ISP's web page.

Local Internet Service Providers

• Cruzers
• Cruzio
• Got.Net
• Sasquatch
• SurfnetUSA
• Tycho

National Internet Service Providers

• ATT
• Earthlink
• PacBell Internet

Online Services

• America Online
• CompuServe

Free Internet Service Providers
(you get advertising while you use the Internet)

• FreeI.net (Mac and PC both)
• Juno (PC only)
• NetZero (PC only)

Services that give you a discount on your computer with one to three years service

• Gateway networks

How do you choose between them?

• Call a few ISPs. Ask about their rates or account types. How well did they explain things to you? Did they seem nice or condescending?

• Ask your neighbors if they are on the Internet and which ISP they use. Ask if they would recommend their ISP. If not, why not?