Connecting On-Campus

Shasta College has numerous student computer workstations with high speed internet connectivity. These include the open computer lab in the LRC, the Writing Center, and the Math Lab. Contact the individual departments/centers to obtain the hours and availability of the student computer labs.

ISP:  An ISP is a company that provides access to the Internet. For a monthly fee, the service provider gives you a software package, username, password and an access phone number. Equipped with a modem, you can then log on to the Internet and browse the World Wide Web and USENET, and send and receive e-mail. In addition to serving individuals, ISPs also serve large companies, providing a direct connection from the company's networks to the Internet. ISPs themselves are connected to one another through Network Access Points (NAPs).

The advent of ISPs has made connecting to the Internet an affordable and convenient option for many people. In addition to providing access to the Internet, ISPs usually offer additional services as well. These services can include:

ISPs charge a fee for the service of providing Internet access. Charges vary from region to region and can depend on variables such as: type of connection, modem speed , and level of service . Some ISPs charge for each hour that a user is connected to the ISP. Other service providers allow unlimited connection time once the user has paid a flat fee either by the month or by the year. Recently, a few new ISPs that provide free Internet access have become available. Two of the most popular ones are Net Zone and Free ISP.

There are many sources of information about Internet Service Providers via the World Wide Web. A good source is: http://www.thelist.com/

Online Service:  An Online Service is a business that provides its subscribers with a wide variety of data transmitted over telecommunications lines. Online services provide an infrastructure in which subscribers can communicate with one another, either by exchanging e-mail messages or by participating in online conferences (forums) and synchronous conversation (chat, instant messages). In addition, the service can connect users with an almost unlimited number of third-party information providers. Subscribers can get up-to-date stock quotes, news stories hot off the wire, articles from many magazines and journals, in fact, almost any information that has been put in electronic form. Of course, accessing all this data carries a price, and most Online Services’ monthly fees are a little higher than an ISP. Three of the largest online services are America Online, CompuServe and MSN.

The difference for you would depend on whether you just wish to use E-mail, and have access to the Internet and the World Wide Web, or whether you want the additional fringe benefits offered by an Online Service Provider.