Uses of Modem

Comcast was founded in 1963 in Tupelo, Mississippi. The name is derived from communications and broadcasting. Comcast is the largest cable provider and the second largest internet provider in the United States. It supplies cable television for over 24 million customers, digital cable for over 14 million, high-speed internet for over 12 million, and digital voice services for over 4 million. Comcast can mainly provide three services for consumer use: Digital cable television with On Demand, high-speed internet, and digital voice services for phones.

Comcast provides a variety of cable packages. Limited Basic Cable, including local channels, Standard Cable, including local channels and popular cable networks, Enhanced Cable, including Standard Cable and the Channel 1 on Demand programming with a digital set-top box, Digital Classic, including Enhanced Cable with access to parental controls, an up-to-date interactive programming guide, and more, Digital Plus, including Digital Classic and access to premium movie networks and sports packages.

Also available are optional additions to a current package, High Definition Television, with HD versions of popular cable channels and unique HD channels, Digital Video Recorder, with the option of recording and saving your favorite shows, On Demand Subscriptions, featuring access to a library of content On Demand, Entertainment Packages, allowing access to groups of channels, including sports and family programming.

On Demand is Comcast’s premiere television service, allowing you, the viewer, to browse an available selection of shows, movies, and specials and watch any time you want. Most On Demand content is free; others cost minor fees per viewing. The program is made as soon as you choose to watch. By February 2009, all broadcast television will be digital. If you don’t have access to digital cable, whether by your provider or television, you have until then to get a television that accepts digital cable. Comcast, fortunately, broadcasts all of its content digitally.

Comcast provides two high-speed internet packages; one for customers who use Comcast cable TV, and one for customers who do not. Both internet packages offer downstream speeds of up to 4, 6, 8, or 17.6 Mbit/s and upstream speeds of 384 Kbit/s 48 kB/sor 768 kbit/s 96 kB/s for the 8 Mbit/s downstream packages in most areas. Some areas offer a 16 Mbit/s downstream and 1 or 2 Mbit/s upstream (125 kB/s) as a more expensive alternative. Comcast has provided a list of cable modems compatible with their services. Some are non-upgradeable, but function with the current version of Comcast internet available. Comcast also provides the user’s manual and USB drivers for these modems.

Comcast Digital Voice is a new phone service Comcast provides that enhances your home phone service. A device called an eMTA embedded Multimedia Terminal Adapter, similar to a cable modem is installed onto your existing phone line. You are given access to features such as: Keeping your current phone number, Using your existing phone number, Unlimited Local and Long-Distance calling, One Bill; Cable, internet, and phone bills are all accumulated onto one bill, Access to E911, which provides 911 operators your phone number, name, and address when you call, Call Waiting, Caller ID with Call Waiting, *66 Repeat Dialing; the phone will continually redial a busy number until it’s answered, three-Way Calling, Online Access to Voice Mail, Call Screening; You will be notified when a number you don’t want to answer calls, and that number will be notified you’re not taking calls, Caller ID Anonymous Call Rejection; If the number is unknown, then you have the option of rejecting it before answering, Caller ID Blocking, Online Account Summary; View your phone bills online, Call Forwarding, Selective Call Forwarding; choose which numbers are forwarded to another phone when you can’t answer your phone, Speed Dial,*69 Call Return; automatically call back the last missed caller.

Comcast uses its broadband networks to connect phone calls, and prioritizes the clarity and speed of phone calls over its internet users to ensure clean and clear phone calls that are not interrupted or otherwise impacted by high internet traffic. The Comcast Triple Play is a single package including all three services: Cable TV, Internet, and Digital Voice, for the discounted price of $99/year.