Telecommunications

Passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 resulted in the deregulation of the telecom industry, and removal of checks and balances that existed to prevent “super-sized” telecommunications companies from monopolizing the market. Consumers can now choose from an endless number of packages and deals. Land-line or wireless telephone, dial-up or DSL, cable or satellite television and radio, pay-per-minute, time-of-day or flat-rate long distance packages are just a few options.

Your medium affects your telecom needs. If you work with digital imaging, you might need high-speed Internet access. If you are an actor who is often attending rehearsals and auditions, a cell phone would be wiser than a land-line telephone. Most providers offer both residential and business services as well as Internet access. Some, such as Comcast, might even offer cable/digital television connections or satellite services.

To assess your total telecommunication needs, ask yourself:

• What do you need for your basic communication services? What are the pros and cons of a land-line telephone vs. a wireless; dial-up or digital Internet access, fax machine/modem system or a cellular phones and pagers?
  
• If you have a combination telephone/modem/fax machine, would you like to use one phone line to cut down costs, or separate lines to avoid congestion? Ask the service provider about installing two phone numbers on one line.
  
• Do you need basic dial-up, high-speed Internet access or DSL? Basic dial-up allows you to use only the Internet or the telephone at one time, unless you have separate phone lines. DSL lines allow simultaneous telephone and Internet use. DSL can also be accessed through a television cable provider, and can run simultaneously with your television.
  
• Can the space you are considering handle the type of telecommunication services you need and want? What will it cost to upgrade the space to fit your needs?
  
• How long will it take for installation? 
  

Service Providers
Once you have determined your needs, comparison-shop for suppliers. Major telecommunications providers in the Chicago area include:

• SBC Communications Inc.
• Comcast
• Globalcom Inc.
• Illinois Telephone Corporation
• MCI
• Cavalier
• TruComm
• Verizon
• Vonage
  

You can also find contact information and listings of these providers in the phone book.

Deregulation has added extra steps to the process of getting your service connected. Make sure you know:

• Who will turn on your service, and when;
  
• to whom you can report connection and/or other problems;
  
• Which company handles billing
  

TIP: For information on satellite service providers, visit Satellite.com, which links to satellite providers and provides comparison information.