How to Switch Internet Service Providers

As a computer consultant to nonprofit organizations, I frequently encounter clients who pay more for their Internet service than they need to. They may have listened to a salesperson instead of a trusted advisor when selecting service, or never renegotiated their rate over the years as prices dropped. The result is that nonprofits sometimes end up paying hundreds of dollars a year for a level of Internet service they don't need.

I've worked with organizations that have paid $24 per month for dial-up Internet service when less-expensive Internet Service Providers (ISPs) abound, others that have paid $200 a month for SDSL when ADSL is adequate and costs less, and some that have paid high rates for slow ISDN when speedy ADSL is available for less.

What keeps people from switching to a lower-cost ISP? Usually they don't know that they're paying too much. Sometimes they know they're paying too much, but don't know how to switch. Then when some do make the switch, they make a misstep and end up without Internet service for days.

This article aims to help office managers and "accidental techies" who serve as their organization's de facto IT department determine whether their organization is paying too much for Internet service, and plan a switch to a less expensive provider.

Am I Paying Too Much?

This question isn't an easy one to answer, because sometimes a nonprofit requires expensive Internet services. If an organization needs the services it's paying for, then the fee might be justified. Of course, if the organization is paying for services it doesn't need, then the fee is too high. To help you evaluate your rate, consider whether your organization is paying for these services that are frequently unnecessary:

1. Static IP address: Every computer on the Internet has a unique number assigned to it, the "IP address." The IP address can be "static," meaning it never changes, or "dynamic," meaning it can change from time to time. A static IP address is only necessary if you are providing services to people outside your office. If you host your own Web server in-house, offer remote access to users over VPN, or have a mail server, then you might need static IP addresses. But if you don't have any of these things, you probably don't need a static IP address, and you may be paying for it unnecessarily.
2. Too much speed: Faster is better, right? Not always. An organization shouldn't pay for a faster Internet connection than it needs. For many small offices, the slowest DSL connection is fast enough.
   
   When it comes to Internet connections, there are two speeds that together make up the bandwidth you're paying for: the download speed and the upload speed. A faster download speed means that Web pages load faster, e-mail comes in a bit more quickly, but it is most important when you're downloading large files.
   
   The upload speed allows you to send files to others more quickly. Upload speed is important if you're running a Web server in-house, because that speed can determine how quickly your site's visitors are able to load your Web pages. Upload speed also contributes to how quickly remote users can get files over a VPN connection.
3. ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) and cable Internet connections have a fast download speed and a slower upload speed. This type of connection is the best choice for offices that do not provide Internet services to people outside the office.
   • SDSL (Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) and fractional or full T1 Internet connections have the same speed for uploads and downloads. They are best for organizations that host a Web site in-house or provide other Internet services to people outside the office.
     
4. Add-on services: Sometimes Internet service is bundled with e-mail accounts and Web hosting space. But if your e-mail and Web hosting are being provided by yet another company, you could be paying for services you don't need.