Costs for broadband Internet access can seem steep compared to residential rates, but business ISPs have to provide much greater reliability and customer support than residential ISPs do. For examples, see what other BuyerZone users have paid for DSL and T1 internet access.

Business ISPs vary their DSL prices depending on how close you are to their central offices. Prices, which are higher than residential DSL rates due to lower limits on subscribers per line, range from $30 to $250 for both initial setup and monthly service fees according to the bandwidth you choose. In addition to these flat rates, expect to pay additional charges for “bursting” – using more than your allotted bandwidth.

Standard T1 Internet access prices include the phone company’s local loop charge – typically $150 and up – the phone circuit that connects your location to the business ISP’s point of presence (POP), and the Internet bandwidth access port. All in, monthly T1 prices range from $250 to $1,000 – expect to pay that much for initial setup as well. Pricing varies according to whether you select data, voice, or integrated service, and how many channels you wish to activate.

Fractional T1s can be obtained for as little as $100-$200 per month. Bonded T1s are typically priced at a multiple of a regular T1 line; 3 bonded T1 lines, for example, would cost $750 to $3,000 monthly.

As mentioned earlier, the typical contract length is three years. Most business ISPs will either provide the equipment – routers, T1 pipes, Ethernet cables – for free, or tie them into the monthly pricing. Certain setup fees – including local loop charges and installation – may also be waived based on the length of a contract.