# Computer Modem Help
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-modem-help/396365
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 17, 2007, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-modem-help/396365 "2007-03-17T21:02:04Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2007, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-modem-help/396365/1 "2007-03-17T21:02:04Z")
I’m hopeless with technology, but feel like I’m paying Comcast way too much money. My rental fee for the modem is only 3 bucks a month, but if I buy my own modem could I get a different ISP provider? I see companies like NetZero and Earthlink advertising rates of $20 a month, if I bought a modem, would I need to go through Comcast at all?
Forgive me if this is an insanely ignorant question, but I am over 40 so I have an excuse (although I can program my VCR thankyouverymuch).
Thanks
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2007, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-modem-help/396365/2 "2007-03-17T22:01:07Z")
Depends. Are you talking a traditional dial-up telephone line acoustic modem, or a "cable modem, or a “DSL modem”? BIG difference
The Netzero & Earthlink people are advertising dialup service. In other words, they are ISPs that provide connection to the internet when you connect to them by having your modem dial them over traditional telephone lines at traditional (ie painfully slow) speeds.
If Comcast is your ISP, they’re probably selling you internet access over their cable system, as in “cable TV cable”. If so, they have 100% exclusive control over the signals on that cable and you’re not going to get an internat connection from anybody else regardless of the hardware you might buy from whereever.
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### Author:  [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2007, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-modem-help/396365/3 "2007-03-19T03:37:47Z")
[QUOTE=LSLGuy]
Depends. Are you talking a traditional dial-up telephone line acoustic modem, or a "cable modem, or a “DSL modem”? BIG difference
The Netzero & Earthlink people are advertising dialup service. In other words, they are ISPs that provide connection to the internet when you connect to them by having your modem dial them over traditional telephone lines at traditional (ie painfully slow) speeds.
If Comcast is your ISP, they’re probably selling you internet access over their cable system, as in “cable TV cable”. If so, they have 100% exclusive control over the signals on that cable and you’re not going to get an internat connection from anybody else regardless of the hardware you might buy from whereever.
[/QUOTE]
I was afraid of that. Oh well, I’ll survive. Thanks!