DSL (digital subscriber line) service is provided over a customer's existing telephone line. It does not interfere with or limit the usage of a customer's normal telephone service. The DSL is bundled with BullochNet Internet service as a single service offering.

DSL provides an "always on" Internet connection at speeds of up to 512Kb down stream and 128Kb upstream. The actual speed may vary based on the distance the customer resides from the switching office. However, speeds will never be less than 256Kb down stream and 128Kb upstream.

This speed relates to the DSL line (from the house to the switching office) and is unrelated to the Internet speed. BullochNet will maintain Internet Bandwidth to provide an average throughput of 384Kb per user. Actual speed may vary based upon the site being accessed by the end user.

The current rate is $49.95 per month. This rate includes the DSL line and Internet service (bandwidth) and one E-mail account. A personal home page is not included in this service.

Installation is $95.00 for the DSL line. However, this charge may be discounted if the customer commits to a 12-month contract for the service. If the customer removes before the 12-month expiration of the contract, they will be responsible for the full installation charge.

This installation is for the line and Internet connection only (excluding jack installation). The DSL also requires the computer be on a station (inside) wire separate from all other telephones. Inside wiring will be provided as necessary under existing procedures and charges.

If the customer needs assistance for work on their computer or installing a modem, they should contact a company that specializes in this function.

There is a limitation of where the service can be provided. A customer must be within three (3) miles of a switching office equipped with the DSL equipment. Before selling the service we will need to "qualify" the customer by reviewing the facilities the customer is being served with.

It is Bulloch's intent to provide this service to ALL Bulloch Telephone customers. However, we have not completed our outside plant plan that will bring all customers within the three-mile loop limit. As we place more remotes in service, all customers can probably subscribe to this service. We will maintain a list of interested customers and notify them when we can provide them service. We will, within a two week period, give them a "best estimate" of when service will be available.

Installation will require a visit to the customer premise to verify the service is working and to install a "splitter" and to isolate the computer wiring from the telephone sets. As a result we will be limited on the number of service connections we can provide in any week.

DSL service requires a different modem than analog dial-up Internet. This modem must be compatible with Alcatel G-Lite equipment. Brand names vary, but we have tested Alcatel and Efficient Network modems and found them to be compatible. Bulloch Telephone may at its discretion provide modems on a promotional basis.

These modems are available at some larger computer stores and a few local establishments. These modems require a USB port or a NIC card interface from the computer. It is also recommended that the operating system be Windows 98 or greater and that the systems have a minimum of 64 Meg of memory and 128 Meg is recommended.

All charges will be billed to the customer on the Bulloch Telephone bill. These charges will appear as "BullochNet DSL Service".