StarNet's Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service provides for high-speed connections to the Internet over regular phone lines.

Basically, when a line is converted to DSL, it increases the amount of data that the line can carry. The increase is so drastic that you can use the same line for both the old voice services and a high-speed Internet connection simultaneously.

In other words, you can be on the phone and on the Internet at the same time. If you currently have a second phone line just to handle Internet access, you won't need it any longer.

Also, depending what hardware you order, you won't have to log in any longer. All you need to do is click on a web browser, or an e-mail client etc... and you're on. The connection is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No more logging in and logging off. Just click and go.

Note: This is not true if you go with Select. Since the connections are oversold (i.e. there are up to 10 users for every one DSL port on Qwest's end). So there is the possibility you can get the DSL equivalent of "all circuits are busy".

And the connections are very fast. Even the slowest connection speed offered is 256k -- that's about 10 times as fast as a 28.8 modem and twice as fast as an ISDN line. To put that in concrete terms, a file that normally would take an hour to download from the net over a modem will now take a mere 6 minutes. The average web page pops up in under a second.

In addition, if you have other computers in your home and get the external DSL modem/router, you may network them together so all of them have access to the Internet.

Note: Again, this is not true for Select.

The DSL "modem" isn't really a modem at all -- it's a kind of network terminator. It plugs into a regular telephone jack to connect to the outside world.

When you use a DSL connection, you don't need to use your normal modem. In fact, unless you need your modem to send or receive faxes or for calling a BBS that isn't on the net, you can completely disconnect your normal modem.

If you are a current dial-up subscriber, please understand that we're still absolutely committed to continuing to provide top-notch dial-up access. DSL is simply one more option -- and a very exciting one at that.

And of course, when you order StarNet DSL services you get all the benefits of a normal StarNet account -- e-mail, USENET newsgroups, blistering fast web access, all the great things on the net. Naturally, you also get the benefits of StarNet 's renowned content, support and systems staff.