More than 30 million people across the U.S. do not have access to high-speed DSL or cable Internet service. Are you one of them? Does that mean you're stuck with slow, erratic dial-up service?

No. Now you can get high-speed broadband satellite Internet access anywhere in the country, and at a price you can afford.

How does satellite service work?
Instead of sending an Internet signal through your phone line, satellite Internet providers broadcast their signals up to a satellite orbiting in the sky. The satellite then bounces the signal back down to a satellite dish attached to a home or business.
The dish captures the signal and sends it to a modem which decodes the signal and sends it to a computer.

In order to receive satellite Internet service all you need is a clear view of the southern sky, and the necessary equipment which some companies will give you for free.

What are the benefits of broadband satellite Internet service?
* It's fast - Satellite Internet is up to 50 times faster than dial-up service.
This means you can surf websites as fast as turning the pages in a book, and you can download files, pictures, movies, and music in a fraction of the time it takes with dialup.

* It's immediate - Satellite service is always on, so you don't have to spend time logging on and waiting to get on the Internet.

* It's independent - Satellite service is separate from your phone line. The benefit here is that you won't miss any more telephone calls. You can take phone calls and talk on your phone while you're online.

Do I really need broadband satellite Internet access?
The Internet is changing. Websites are using more sophisticated applications that require high-speed access in order to download audio messages, movies, music, and flash files. Without high-speed service it can takes hours, even days, to download these files.
To get the full benefits of the Internet, you need high-speed, broadband service, whether it's DSL, cable, or satellite service.

Who has the fastest speeds and best service?
Of the four major providers, HughesNet is the fastest, with speeds up to 5Kbps. That's 50 times faster than 56K dialup service.

Their nearest competitor, WildBlue, offers speeds up to 1.5 Mbps which is 15 times faster than dialup. As for the other two competitors, Skyway also offers speeds up to 1.5 Mbps, and Starband offers speeds up to 1Mbps.

As far as service is concerned, HughesNet has been in business for 31 years, and has more than 400,000 satisfied customers. And they're the only company that offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Their nearest competitor, WildBlue has been in business 7 years, and does not offer a money-back guarantee.