Rhode Island Internet service providers, or ISPs, connect their customers to the Internet in exchange for a fee. A national ISP will grant access to subscribers in much of the nation while a local ISP will limit users to a specific geographic region.

A small business should consider a separate web hosting company to maintain its website instead of using the web space from its Internet providers in Rhode Island. Businesses with high-traffic sites may require a large national company that can provide mirroring and redundant connections for their websites.

The first consideration in deciding which of the ISPs in Rhode Island to use is the type of access you want:

1. Dial-up access uses a telephone line and is the slowest connection. You must dial in to the Rhode Island ISP and you'll frequently have a limit on your connection time.

2. Digital Subscriber Line, or DSL, access also is available through the phone in most areas. However, DSL is much faster than a dial-up connection and normally provides dedicated access.

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

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

Locate an ISP in Rhode Island that offers cable access to small businesses

ISPs in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island high-speed Internet provider that has a cable access package specifically designed for small businesses. Cox's business division offers Internet service solutions for businesses of all sizes and allows you to customize your service with many additional options.

Find Rhode Island ISPs that offer DSL service

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. EarthLink offers a range of services for businesses of different sizes and features symmetrical DSL, which allows you to upload as fast as you can download.

Check out the access packages from a local Rhode Island Internet service provider

A rural business may have to depend on a small, local RI Internet service provider. ISPs in Rhode Island frequently offer wireless DSL service for these businesses.

I recommend: Host Tech Communications is in Providence and specializes in managed services for businesses, including dedicated broadband access. MegaNet provides a range of commercial class connections to the Internet for businesses in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use Internet service providers in Rhode Island with a Tier 3 rating or better, especially if you are running a small business. The tier rating establishes the ISP's proximity to the Internet and generally how fast its access will be, all other things being equal. Tier 1 ISPs are linked directly to the Internet; Tier 2 ISPs lease their connections from Tier 1 ISPs and so on.