The Internet is now a fixture in 75 percent of U.S. households, yet only 25 percent of those homes have high-speed access.

Most Internet connections re made using a modem that dials up an Internet service provider every time a user logs on. Anyone who has experienced a high-speed broadband connection can attest to how excrutiatingly slow a standard modem connection is.

High-speed broadband service can also be accessed through a phone line, as well as cable or satellite. The difference is that the connection remains on even when the computer is inactive. If your home has more than one computer, networking them is by far the most economical way to go. Without a network, high-speed acess for each computer is billed separately.