If you are one of thousands of people who are stuck with dial-up Internet because of the remote location of your home, take heart. There are actually two ways for you to help bring higher speed Internet to your area. The first is an Internet waitlist, and the other is an Internet "interested party" list. Learn what these mean and how they can help you get rid of your dial-up Internet for good.
The "Interested Party" List
Internet providers are always looking to expand their territories to provide service to more customers. The problem is that many areas without service seem too remote to set up service; therefore, it would be a financial loss to construct relay boxes and underground cables to these locations. Therefore, many providers have set up "interested party" lists. These are lists that allow you to add your name to a growing batch of customers who want the provider to expand into their area. If there are enough "interested parties" to make the expansion financially worthwhile, the provider allocates funds to expand in your direction. If there are not enough interested parties, the provider expands elsewhere.
The Waitlist
The waitlist is a customer list that you can add your name to by calling the Internet provider and requesting installation of service. The waitlists exist when the provider is already expanding into your area, but there are not enough fully-trained installation experts who can make the trek to your home to install service. As installation experts and time becomes available, you are moved up on the list for installation. It may take longer than the typical wait times to get service, but getting your name on that list ensures, at the very least, that you will get service as soon as the provider has an available technician and a time slot.
What It Means for You and the End of Dial-Up
Dial-up services are so outdated that really no one should have to deal with them. Most Internet service providers are trying to cover the entire country, but because it takes time to determine if services are worth providing in an area, you and your neighbors need to take a more pro-active approach and let providers know that you want service. That means calling any and every provider from whom you would want service and asking to be put on their "interested party" list and/or waitlist. This moves the decision-making process along faster than your dial-up, and before you know it, you can connect to the Internet faster than you can brew your morning cup of coffee.
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