Getting internet and television access at home now has more choices than ever. With traditional cable companies offering internet, and internet companies offering television programming, not to mention satellite dishes and FM-wave transmissions, there’s a dizzying array of options to get television and internet at home. We’ve rounded up a number of the options to help make the process simpler for you. Not all providers are available in each area, so be sure to check your local coverage.
AT&T
AT&T Fiber offers three different tiers for internet service. Internet 100 starts at $35 a month for 12 months plus a $10 equipment fee. offering up to 100 megabit per second download speeds. The 300 and 1000 ranges offer 300 and 1000 megabit download speeds, respectively, costing $45 and $60 a month for a year, plus equipment fees. These speeds are much faster than traditional cable, so if fiber is available in your area and you do a lot of streaming or gaming, you should check it out. AT&T also offers television starting at $69.99/month plus tax. Be sure to find out if you can save by bundling.
Spectrum
Spectrum has internet, television and internet bundles, as well as their “Triple Play” which includes home phone with unlimited calling. The three choices offer introductory rates of $50, $90, and $100 a month, respectively, for 12 months when bundled. Spectrum TV offers over 125 channels, free HD, with sports news and more. Spectrum internet has fast download speeds up to 100mBps, and no download caps. It also includes a free modem.
Frontier
Frontier’s Fios 500 Mbps plan costs $40 per month with fast speeds of up to 500 Mbps. There are no data caps so you can download and stream to your heart’s content. If you are more budget conscious, Frontier offers a DSL (non-Cable) plan for even less — which is perfect for older people who just want to do things like check email and read the news (speeds are only six megabits per second, so this isn’t great for streaming movies or watching sports online).
Starry
Starry is an exciting new entry in the usually unchanging telecommunications industry. Starry uses FM-radio waves and existing wiring in your building to bring internet to you. This means if you live in a rural area, you can’t get Starry just yet. But if you live in a major metro, you are probably eligible for Starry, which offers a money-back guarantee and frequently offers multiple months free to entice people to switch from Fiber, DSL, or Cable. The two plan speeds are 100 megabits and 200 megabits, so there’s not a ton to choose from, but many reviews mention that Starry is much more reliable than traditional cable connections can be, and do not slow as easily when other people are using the internet during prime evening hours. If you’re able to get Starry, we highly recommend it.
Dish TV
Dish offers over 190 television channels starting at just $59.99 a month. If you want even more, you can get 240 channels for just $84.99 a month. With more channels than traditional cable, if you love television, you should definitely check Dish out. They are rated the number one television provider by JD Power.
Xfinity
Xfinity offers seven cheap and fast plans. Of chief interest for those looking to save money is their $29.99/mo. internet with speeds up to 100 Mbps. Operating in 39 states and with over 30 million customers, it is the largest internet provider in the nation. Do a search to see if they are available in your area.
Emergency Broadband Benefit
The government is now offering a program where you can receive a discount of up to $50 per month for broadband if you are a qualifying low-income person. Someone must have income at or below 135% of Federal Poverty Guidelines, or be someone who is a participant in other programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline. Families who receive free or reduced-price school lunch also qualify, as well as those receiving Pell Grants, or were qualified as having lost income during the Coronavirus pandemic. More detailed qualification info is available here at the official FCC.gov website
In Conclusion
There are tons of options for television and internet at home. If you just need internet and live in a major city, we encourage you to check out Starry. If you need something including both television, check out Spectrum’s bundles to save. And if you want the most channels possible, be sure to investigate the options from Dish TV.