Open Cable—Cable Companies as Both ISPs and Network Service Providers

Most cable TV companies in the United States use either Excite@Home or Road Runner for the Internet service provider function for their cable modem customers. ISPs provide email, hosting and Web content. Cable TV operators are starting to allow other ISPs, such as AOL and Earthlink, to offer service for cable modem subscribers.

ISP Service for Cable TV

Road Runner and Excite@Home (see Table 8.2) furnish the connections to the Internet backbone as well as content and email service for the majority of cable modem customers in the United States. Excite@Home is made up of two divisions: the backbone network and the ISP functions. At Home provides backbone connections to the Internet, ...

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