 | Questions and Answers Revised 4/25/2005 |
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Purpose of the Directory
FindAnISP's Mission Statement
FindAnISP's mission is to become the most reliable and objective source of information for residential dialup ISP information in the United States and Canada.
It was our own experience using those directories back in 1996 that motivated us to create this directory. Seven years later, the other directories still have the same problems.
- In the FindAnISP.com directory, ISPs are listed by Local Calling area, not Area Code.
You are looking for an ISP that is a local
call for you.
Since the other directories dump out every ISP in the entire area code (generally alphabetically), you can waste hours switching back and forth between the directory and the ISP's web sites trying to determine if each ISP has a modem that is a local call to you. Many of the ISPs are not even still in business or are nothing but a PO box (Virtual ISP). - We'll still be here tomorrow because we have no IPO "money" that we're "burning through" and underpaid staff who believe stock options will make them millionaires.
- We provide you with objective information about the ISP, including ratings of the larger ones.
- We are an independent ISP directory. Several ISP Directories have
been created recently that are owned and run by the ISPs listed prominently in
the search results. Some even go so far as to give themselves ratings.
While we do show sponsor's listings first, we do NOT have any ownership interest in any ISP listed in this directory
- Every update is verified by us for accuracy. This site isn't just an automated script that automatically posts anything anyone calling themselves an "ISP" submits.
- We're focused on Dialup Residential acccounts only in the United States. We aren't trying to be the world's biggest directory by including every ISP in Afghanistan.
To get your ISP listed, simply let us know by going to Add My ISP!
Please be aware that since February 2001, we've been purchasing paid traffic to promote the web site. ISPs that generate significant numbers of clickthroughs but do not become sponsors will eventually be suspended from the directory.
Update 4/24/2005
We no longer are spending money to advertise or promote the directory and are in the process of winding down the sponsorship program started in 2001. ISPs that have never been sponsors have mostly been relisted (although many have been dropped because they no longer appear to be in the dialup internet business). For those which claim to be "nationial" ISPs but for which we have no direct contact information, we are listing those only in the state in which they reside.
No new ISPs are being added into the directory. Our attitude at this point is - the commercial internet arrived in 1995 in full force - if in that time period you didn't find the web site listed on google #1 under "ISP Directory" and/or are just now deciding to start an ISP business, then the ISP is probably not a serious business venture.
We would still be interested in hearing about pricing changes, mergers, ISPs that have gone out of business. We would eventually find those through our review process, but if you can help us find out sooner, it would be appreciated.
Or at least you shouldn't until you read enough of this web site to understand how we rate ISPs. Since everyone has different needs, there is no single rating which is accurate for everyone
The beauty of the Internet is that anyone can put up a web site, and everyone is free to draw their own conclusions about the value of the content.
The way to get the rating upgraded is to improve the quality of your service, or do a better job explaining your service on your web site.
Badgering us that you disagree with our ratings process or stating that we are incompetant boobs and should be shut down will do nothing except increase the chances that your rating will not improve.
Visit How we rate an ISP to gain insights into what we consider to be important, and why.
If you disagree with our ratings process, start your own web site and see if people like your system better.
If you really believe in freedom of speech, that means that you believe in the right of idiots to make fools of themselves (Idiots defined as those people who don't agree with you).
When visiting other ISP directories which purport to have ratings systems done either by the directory or by customers, please look for similar statements of the process used to perform ratings. The absence of any methodology for a ratings system should raise your curiousity about who is actually doing the ratings and for what purpose. Does the ISP directory run the ISPs listed in their directory, perhaps? Look for specfics. If the "ratings" look more like eBay seller feedback, be concerned.
Questions about AOL
If you still have your AOL software installed, log on to AOL and go to keyword CANCEL for the current information on closing your AOL account. (Keywords are used by holding the Ctrl key and then pressing K - type the keyword in the box that pops up
If you already uninstalled your AOL software, then call AOL on the telephone at 888-265-8008 (That's all keyword CANCEL tells you to do). If you are outside of the country and cannot dial a toll-free number, you can call 703-264-1184 long distance into the US.
Be prepared to be offered another free month to keep the account open (and perhaps through some unexpected billing error perhaps AOL will forget to not bill you for your free month...)... Expect to be offered AOL high speed access even if you already have a functioning DSL or Cable modem... AOL never stops selling. Expect to continue to receive "Please come back to your friends at AOL" CD-roms for the rest of your life.
It would appear that you visited the AOL page on the FindAnISP.com web site, and thought you were directing this question to AOL. FindAnISP.com participates in a referral program with AOL, but we are not owned or run by AOL.
Having said that, AOL has three main account types - the one that most people have is AOL's basic service - currently $23.90 per month. They offer the first 45 days free (up to 1000 hours - 24x45, more or less). If you're interested to sign up for that, click the banner at the top of this page: http://www. findanisp.com/ isp.php?ispid=35&isptag=aolcom (that's probably the page where you were just before sending this note).
AOL is quite different that most ISPs - they require that you run their software to access the internet, and all of the traditional internet services use AOL's proprietary protocols. This is largely due to the fact that AOL's history goes back to before the internet became commercial, AOL decided to build gateways into the internet from their software rather than moving to software based on the internet standards.
The 2nd type of access is AOL's Bring you own access - they just raised the price to $14.95/ month. AOL BYOA is the opposite of the above. If you have access through an ISP that is based on the internet protocols, this service provides a gateway from the internet into the AOL service.
The third product offering is their high speed access (DSL) - since merging with Time/ Warner, there are a large number of people who have cable modems who can use AOL as their online service.
AOL's proprietary content includes chat rooms, AOL email, web browser using a customized version of Microsoft Internet Explorer [Note: AOL owns Netscape] and AOL-only content. Since the merger with Time/Warner, AOL Time Warner is doing heavy cross-promotion between its online service and its entertainment, publishing and news divisions.
If you're still interested, here is the Are you ready to leave AOL? Quiz
Other kinds of questions
If you're an ISP and interested in becoming a sponsor, please visit the Sponsorship information page.