Cable Internet is a fast, reliable way of accessing the Internet with a computer network of almost any size. If you have cable television in your place of business or waiting room, you can probably add cable Internet relatively easily and might even be able to save on fees. Negative aspects of cable Internet include slower running times as more computers actively use the network, and access being tied to the presence or installation of active cable lines in your place of business. Many business owners, however, find that the benefits of the service far outweigh the costs.

Cable Internet basics like where to get it, how to get it, and what it can do for you should take the forefront when you're considering whether it's the right broadband Internet access method for your business. Don't forget to take the following into account when investigating the cable Internet basics:

1. Cable Internet access is usually provided through or in cooperation with cable television companies.

2. Speed of cable Internet varies and is dependent upon several factors.

3. If you're ready to select a broadband Internet service for your business, cable Internet has some potential advantages over other methods.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Line up cable Internet service providers

Your best bet for finding a cable Internet service provider is to start with local cable television service providers. Once you've determined whether cable Internet is available in your area you'll need to contact your provider of choice and determine whether additional wiring is necessary to provide cable Internet in your office (if there is no cable outlet already in place, one will have to be installed).

I recommend: Use Cable-Modem.net's broadband Internet availability map to determine whether cable Internet is available in your area. You can also visit cable Internet vendors like Time Warner Cable directly and find out, through their website, whether cable Internet service is available in your area.

Check how fast your high-speed cable Internet really is

Cable Internet companies like to advertise blazing fast speeds, but certain factors--like how many other users in your locality are actively using bandwidth--may affect your actual Internet access speeds.

I recommend: If you sign up with cable Internet providers, like Comcast, that advertise very high speed Internet, use the C-Net Bandwidth Meter to easily verify whether or not you're achieving the actual speeds you're paying for.

Zoom in on the benefits of cable Internet for business

Cable Internet is reputed to be more reliable than other high-speed access methods like DSL, which uses a telephone line. You--or your IT department--can also easily set up a network so that multiple computers can connect to the Internet through the same cable line.

I recommend: Visit Web Hosting Geeks to get a feel for how broadband Internet (which includes cable, DSL and other access methods) can benefit your business. Check out High Speed Internet's comparison guide, which can help you pin down the difference between DSL and cable Internet through explaining why cable Internet might be the better choice for your business.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Much like cellular phone plans, some cable Internet services require you to sign up for a specific contract period at the time of enrollment. There are usually extra fees involved if you choose to cancel before the end of the contract period. You can get around this by shopping with services like Time Warner Cable that offer contract free plans, and you can also sometimes get out of signing a contract if you're willing to provide your own cable modem and other equipment.

Until recently, cable-based broadband Internet service was considered mostly a residential option. Availability of cable Internet service is much higher in homes than in businesses, and businesses remain more likely to get their broadband Internet service through one of several flavors of DSL or a T1 line. But cable Internet's mix of low cost and high performance is beginning to push it into the small business mainstream, and is worth a look for cost-conscious companies. Keep in mind:

1. Cable Internet service is supplied through the same lines that carry cable television. It is managed by cable Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that have cut deals to use the lines. Cable Internet service delivers fewer ISP choices to a given address than does DSL.
2. Although cable Internet is, in theory, faster than DSL, in practice cable Internet performance can vary widely throughout the day, depending upon the amount of traffic carried by all subscribers on the line.
3. Even if your business address can receive cable TV, it may not be able to receive cable Internet. Your local cable company can tell you.
4. Rate plans differ in the number of email addresses supplied, default speed, additional services (Web hosting, managed storage, etc.) and the number of IP addresses a cable Internet provider will assign to your company. In most cases, the number of IP addresses doesn't matter, although it can simplify management of your Web site or email.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Discover which cable Internet service provider can serve your company's address

Your vendor choices will be limited to those cable Internet service providers who have made a deal with your local cable company.

I recommend: The Broadband Guide generates free real time quotes from cable Internet providers serving your location, based on your input in a simple form. At BroadbandBuyer.com, you can search for and contact cable Internet providers serving your address, and also access current specials from some carriers. (The site considers cable Internet a residential, not business, service, so you'll use the Home search engine to hook up with cable Internet providers.)

Compare rates and services

Compare broadband Internet providers’ rates and services

I recommend: See a cost comparison chart at CompareNow.net, along with user review ratings. Broadband Internet provider Web sites (for example, Road Runner Business Class, EarthLink, Comcast, Cox and Time-Warner) can give you details on bundled broadband Internet services and special temporary rates, but the real, ongoing rate is usually a mystery until you call the company and ask. Also check Business.com for more broadband Internet provider rates and services.

Don't ignore other broadband Internet options

T1 lines are widely considered the most reliable broadband Internet service for business but also the most costly. DSL comes in a variety of speeds and configurations that make it easier to balance your access broadband Internet needs and your budget.

I recommend: BroadbandInfo.com's great guide compares the advantages and disadvantages of different broadband Internet technologies, and EarthLink's helpful chart compares its business broadband Internet service options. Check the directories on Business.com for more broadband Internet service options from various broadband internet providers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Buy more bandwidth than you need from your broadband Internet provider now so that you're ready for company growth.
• •  If you can, lease equipment rather than buying it. Make maintenance the broadband Internet provider's problem.
• •  Get the shortest broadband Internet service contract you can. Rates drop, so you don't want to be locked into a higher rate for too long. And if you're unhappy with your broadband Internet provider, you don't want to be stuck — there are stiff penalties for terminating a contract early.
• •  You'll typically find DSL and T1 options on broadband Internet providers' 'business' Web sites; cable Internet service info is available under the residential pages. Home vs. business doesn't really matter, except that the business broadband Internet providers may offer more email addresses, IP addresses and other goodies.

While almost every cable television company offers some sort of cable Internet service to its providers, not all of them specialize in providing cable Internet for businesses. That's just one of many factors that's going to influence what you pay for your cable Internet services.

While it's prudent to search out the best rates among cable Internet providers, you should always return to the bottom line: Does the access you're paying for serve your business needs? In the end, the cheapest service may not prove the most rewarding use of your business dollars. Keep the following in mind when comparing pricing and costs of cable Internet:

1. Always be ready to negotiate a special deal with your cable Internet provider.

2. Sometimes it's worth paying for the fastest in high-speed Internet access.

3. Dealing with a business specialist might better satisfy your business needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Track down special offers from cable Internet service providers

As with other service providers, cable Internet service providers are constantly competing for your business, trying to one-up each other with better prices, service or perks.

I recommend: TheISPGuide.com helps you sort through the various offerings from cable Internet providers by giving a quick overview of their offerings, including sign-up specials that typically offer a reduced rate, sometimes as low as $20 per month, for a limited period (six months is typical). Broadband National lets you compare broadband access products by provider or service type.

Find the best deals on the fastest cable Internet services

Whether you have a large number of employee computers to serve, regularly transfer very large files or just want the fastest service possible, you can expect to pay a premium for high-speed cable Internet.

I recommend: Super-fast cable Internet providers like Charter Communications and Comcast Business Services offer super high-speed plans up to 16 Mbps at rates as low as $24.99 per month for promotional periods. Expect to pay at least $200 per month for such fast Internet access once the promotional period is over, with an upper limit approaching $1,000 per month for the very fastest Internet access tailored to serve a large company.

Deal with a company that specializes in business cable Internet

While the equivalent of residential Internet access may be appropriate for some small businesses, finding the right high-speed Internet access to serve multiple computers or specific business needs means dealing with a business specialist.

I recommend: Home cable Internet providers like Cox and Time Warner sport specialized business branches--in this case, Cox Business and Time Warner Cable Business Class, respectively--that tailor their offerings to the business client's needs. You'll often find business Cable Internet access bundled with other business services, with the Internet portion starting as low as $30 per month in some states and topping $100 in others. If you need especially fast Internet access or to provide Internet access to many computers, expect to pay up to five to ten times the cost a smaller business with fewer demands would.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you're negotiating the pricing and costs of cable Internet access, remember that signing a service or commitment contract--which typically locks you in for anywhere from one to three years--may guarantee you a better monthly rate.

Cable Internet is one of the fastest ways to connect to the Internet. With speeds faster than dial-up and DSL, cable Internet can help your business use the Internet efficiently. Downloads, videos, music and email are all faster with cable Internet. Understanding your options when it comes to cable Internet is important so you get the most out of your cable Internet package. Consider these cable Internet key terms to learn more about broadband capabilities.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Broadband high-speed data

Broadband high-speed data is another name for cable Internet. It's always on, meaning you don't need to dial in for a connection, and broadband high-speed data offers speeds up to 100 times faster than dial up modems.

I recommend: Read about broadband high-speed data on the Time Warner Cable website.

Optical Internet

Optical Internet is a cable Internet service designed for growing businesses. Optical Internet provides dependable connectivity and you can tailor it to meet the unique needs of your business.

I recommend: Read about the Cox Optical Internet options available through Cox Communications.

Minimum system requirements

Computers must meet certain requirements to qualify for cable Internet hook ups. The minimum system requirements detail the capabilities required of your computer.

I recommend: Read the minimum system requirements for Comcast High-Speed Internet Service. This website details the minimum system requirements for a variety of different operating systems.

Connection speeds

One benefit of cable Internet is the connection speed, or the time it takes for the Internet to be generated to your computer. Because cable Internet has connection speeds that are faster than dial up and DSL, you can enjoy faster downloads and faster web surfing with cable Internet.

I recommend: The High Speed Internet Access Guide compares the connection speeds of cable Internet and DSL.

Tier 1

Cable Internet is most reliable when it comes from a Tier 1 provider. Tier 1 is the highest classification a cable Internet service provider can achieve, meaning that company provides reputable service.

I recommend: BroadBand Buyer.com explains the Tier 1 service providers system.

Security Suite

Security is always a concern when you're on the Internet, but cable Internet offers automatic security features, like Security Suite. It's protection that comes automatically when you are a cable Internet subscriber.

I recommend: Read about Charter Security Suite on the Charter Communications website.