What is an ISP?

An ISP (Internet Service Provider) is the people (whom you probably pay a fee monthly) who supply you with a connection to the internet to do things from surfing the web to e-mailing friends.  An ISP can provide you with different types of ways of connecting to the internet and this depends on the ISP.  These connection types are usually one of the following…

• Dial-Up
• DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
• Cable
• T-1
• Satellite
• Wireless Adapter (to connect to a wireless carrier’s network)

A lot of people have the internet service as an add-on with their cable television provider or satellite television provider.  Some have internet service provided by their phone company or wireless phone company.  Some just mooch off of a nearby neighbor’s internet connection by connecting to their wireless router (whether they are aware or not).   In short, an ISP is whoever gives you a connection to the internet.