Kentucky Internet service providers, or ISPs, provide customers access to the Internet for a fee. National ISPs can reach subscribers in much of the nation while local ISPs serve customers in a specific geographic region.

A small business will generally use a separate web hosting company to maintain its website instead of using the web space from the service that provides the connection to the Internet. KY businesses with busy websites will need a large national company that can provide mirroring and redundant connections for their websites.

The first consideration in deciding which Kentucky high-speed Internet provider to use is the type of access you want:

1. Dial-up access is the slowest Internet connection and uses a telephone line. You must dial in to get Kentucky Internet access, and you'll frequently have a limit on the amount of connection time you have.

2. Digital Subscriber Line, or DSL, access is available through the phone and is a common type of high-speed Internet. Kentucky DSL is faster than a dial-up connection and usually allows dedicated access.

3. Kentucky broadband providers have the fastest connections small business owners in Kentucky can generally afford. Kentucky cable providers also offer high-speed cable Internet access.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate a company that offers cable access to the Internet in KY for small businesses

ISPs in Kentucky that provide an always-on cable connection are frequently the best deal for small businesses. Some national ISPs offer packages tailored to the size of your business.

I recommend: Comcast is a Kentucky high-speed Internet provider that has a cable access package specifically designed for small businesses. Optimum offers a range of packages for businesses of different sizes and provides web hosting and ecommerce services.

Find ISPs in Kentucky that offer DSL service for your business

Many ISPs design DSL packages for business owners throughout much of the nation. Businesses can bundle multiple services together, such as Internet and web hosting, to get a better deal from the ISP.

I recommend: Sprint Nextel has an extensive, secure network that covers most of the country and provides ADSL, IDSL and SDSL for businesses. The Verizon Small Business Center offers high speed DSL connections with options for static IP addresses that allow businesses to host their own email and Web servers.

Check out the access packages from local ISPs in Kentucky

A rural business may have to depend on small, local Internet service providers. Kentucky ISPs frequently offer wireless DSL service for these businesses.

I recommend: Elk Creek Internet offers DSL service to businesses in Jefferson, Shelby, and Spencer County. AK Internet Services provides high-speed Internet access and commercial web hosting to businesses in Warren County.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check your ISP's terms of service for website size limitation if you plan to have a large website. You will also need to ensure that your ISP permits commercial websites if you wish to have a website for your small business. Most Kentucky Internet service providers also offer multiple email addresses so that you can assign a separate one to each employee.
• •  If you are in a rural area, you may want to consider using satellite Internet. Kentucky has many areas that aren't easily accessible with land lines and you need only point a portable satellite modem in the general direction of the satellite.