California 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 geographical region.
A small business will generally use a separate web hosting company to maintain its website instead of using the web space from CA Internet service providers. 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 internet service providers in California 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 California 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 very common type of high-speed Internet. California DSL is faster than a dial-up connection and usually allows dedicated access.
3. California broadband providers have the fastest connections small business owners in California can generally afford. California cable providers also offer high-speed cable Internet access.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Locate a California ISP that offers cable access to small businesses
ISPs in California 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 California 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 also provides web hosting and ecommerce services.
Find a CA Internet service provider that offers DSL service for your business
Many ISPs in California 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 offers a range of DSL technologies aimed toward small businesses, including ADSL, ADSL2 and SDSL. 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 CA ISPs
A rural business may have to depend on small, local Internet service providers. California ISPs frequently offer wireless DSL service for these businesses.
I recommend: Nor Cal Broadband is in Newcastle and provides high-speed Internet to businesses in the California foothills.
Mid Cal Broadband is based in San Diego and specializes in reaching areas that are too expensive to reach with cable-based systems.
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 California business ISPs also offer multiple email addresses so that you can assign a separate one to each employee.
The official source of ISPs in California is the ISPs in California page at Business.com
Related Resources from Business.com
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