Feature/Price Comparisons
Communications Advantage Residential Wireless Versus:

Volcano Cable
DirecWay Satellite
Comcast Cable
SBC DSL
















Features

Volcano Cable

Communications Advantage (CA)

Advantage

Speed

Maximum Information Rate:

1500 Kbps download speed - 384 Kbps Upload speed

1500 Kbps download speed - 1500 Kbps upload speed

Advantage CA

Committed Information Rate:

1500 Kbps download speed - 384 Kbps Upload speed

256 Kbps download speed
- 128 Kbps upload speed

Advantage Volcano

Other Transmission Rates

None

Other Speeds Available up to 45 Mbps or more

Advantage CA

Coverage

Ione, California

Over 30 square miles in the Mother Lode and surrounding areas. See coverage area map

Advantage CA

Protection/Security

One level of security through built-in firewall in the router.

Protected at four levels of security/privacy:

Advantage CA

Air-points scrambling-

Frequency Hopping Technology-

Firewall at Network Operations Center-

Wired Equivalent Protection

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

VPN Available with extra charge

VPN Available at no extra charge

Advantage CA

Internet Protocol Address Type

Dynamic IP Address is Standard - No Static IP address is available.

Static IP Address Standard at no extra charge

Advantage CA

Flexibility of Use

Stationary-single point of connection standard.

Mobile connect to any access point within range on network. Networking available.

Advantage CA

Free Dial-Up Account

Limited usage standard dial-up for backup

SlipStream hi-speed dial-up. Use for business or vacation travel in California and many other states (access numbers available via our home page or call us), or use for emergency backup (minimum value $14.95/month)

Advantage CA

Installation Cost $74.95 including modem, installed at the primary TV set.

$200 for 3-year plan or add $10/month to service fee for 2 years.

Advantage Volcano
Equipment Cost

None-company owned and maintained equipment

None-company owned and maintained equipment

Even
Service Costs

Regular Recurring Monthly Cost

$45.95 for basic cable, $40.95 for digital which is $5-6 more than basic - avg $43.45plus $8.69 (est) taxes/surcharges. Total $52.14 $49.95
no taxes/surcharges
Advantage CA
Promotional Discounts, Incentives and Conditions Promotions unknown at this time. Must be Volcano cable user.

No Conditions - $39.95 per month when combined with long distance as low as 3.9 cents/min state-to-state, 5 cents/min in-state

Even

Total Three Year cost including promotional discounts and Taxes and Surcharges

$1877(est)

$1438/$1798 (with/without combined long distance)

Advantage CA - Save $79 to $439

Source: Volcano Ione Office, 06-03-2004






Features

DirecWay (DirecTV) Satellite

Communications Advantage (CA)

Advantage

Speed

Maximum Information Rate:

Up to 500 Kbps download speed - Up to 50 Kbps upload speed

1500 Kbps download speed - 1500 Kbps upload speed

Advantage CA

Committed Information Rate:

None Stated

256 Kbps download speed
- 128 Kbps upload speed

Advantage CA

Other Transmission Rates

Up to 1000 Kbps download speed - Up to 100 Kbps upload speed

Other Speeds Available up to 45 Mbps or more

Advantage CA

Coverage

Virtually Anywhere

Over 30 square miles in the Mother Lode and surrounding areas. See coverage area map

Advantage DirecWay

Protection/Security

One level of security through built-in firewall in the router.

Protected at four levels of security/privacy:

Advantage CA

Air-points scrambling-

Frequency Hopping Technology-

Firewall at Network Operations Center-

Wired Equivalent Protection

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

VPN not supported - use third party products at your own risk.

VPN Available at no extra charge

Advantage CA

Internet Protocol Address Type

Dynamic IP Address is Standard - Static IP address only available with business-level service.

Static IP Address Standard at no extra charge

Advantage CA

Flexibility of Use

Stationary-single point of connection standard.

Mobile connect to any access point within range on network. Networking available.

Advantage CA

Free Dial-Up Account

None - Standard dial-up an additional $15/month

SlipStream high-speed dial-up. Use for business or vacation travel in California and many other states (access numbers available via our home page or call us), or use for emergency backup (minimum value $14.95/month)

Advantage CA

Installation Cost $599.98 quoted as a bundle with equipment. Can be spread over 15 months at $40/month with credit approval

$200 for 3-year plan or add $10/month to service fee for 2 years.

Advantage CA
Equipment Cost

See Installation above - Customer responsible for cost of replacing damaged or out-of-warranteeequipment

None-company owned and maintained equipment

Advantage CA
Service Costs

Regular Recurring Monthly Cost

$59.95 plus $12 (est) taxes and surcharges. Total - $71.95 $49.95
no taxes/surcharges
Advantage CA
Promotional Discounts, Incentives and Conditions None

No Conditions - $39.95 per month when combined with long distance as low as 3.9 cents/min state-to-state, 5 cents/min in-state

Advantage CA

Total Three Year cost including promotional discounts and Taxes and Surcharges

$2590 (est)

$1438/$1798 (with/without combined long distance)

Advantage CA - Save $792 to $1152

Source: DirecWay web site 04-30-2004






Features

Comcast Cable Basic Service

Communications Advantage (CA)

Advantage

Speed

Maximum Information Rate:

Up To 3 Mbps download speed - 'Speeds may vary' ..'higher speeds may not be available in all areas' -256 Kbps upload speed

1500 Kbps download speed - 1500 Kbps upload speed

Advantage Comcast

Committed Information Rate:

None Stated

256 Kbps download speed
- 128 Kbps upload speed

Advantage CA

Other Transmission Rates

None

Other Speeds Available up to 45 Mbps or more

Advantage CA

Coverage

Jackson/Sutter Creek area

Over 30 square miles in the Mother Lode and surrounding areas. See coverage area map

Advantage CA

Protection/Security

One level of security through built-in firewall in the router.

Protected at four levels of security/privacy:

Advantage CA

Air-points scrambling-

Frequency Hopping Technology-

Firewall at Network Operations Center-

Wired Equivalent Protection

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

VPN Available with extra charge

VPN Available at no extra charge

Advantage CA

Internet Protocol Address Type

Dynamic IP Address is Standard - No Static IP address is available.

Static IP Address Standard at no extra charge

Advantage CA

Flexibility of Use

Stationary-single point of connection standard.

Mobile connect to any access point within range on network. Networking available.

Advantage CA

Free Dial-Up Account

Standard Dial-up for 'Email Everywhere' Web Mail Access

SlipStream hi-speed dial-up. Use for business or vacation travel in California and many other states (access numbers available via our home page or call us), or use for emergency backup (minimum value $14.95/month)

Advantage CA

Installation Cost $50

$200 for 3-year plan or add $10/month to service fee for 2 years.

Advantage Comcast
Equipment Cost

$60-100 (cable modem) or lease unit for $3/month. Customer responsible for replacement unless on lease option.

None-company owned and maintained equipment

Advantage CA
Service Costs

Regular Recurring Monthly Cost

$42.95 to $45.95. Avg - $44.45 plus
$8.89 (est) taxes and surcharges. Total $
53.34
$49.95
no taxes/surcharges
Advantage CA
Promotional Discounts, Incentives and Conditions Must be current Comcast customer or monthly rate is $56.99 plus taxes and surcharges.

No Conditions - $39.95 per month when combined with long distance as low as 3.9 cents/min state-to-state, 5 cents/min in-state

Advantage CA

Total Three Year cost including promotional discounts and Taxes and Surcharges

$1920 (est)

$1438/$1798 (with/without combined long distance)

Advantage CA - Save $122 to $482

Source: Comcast Web Site 05-30-2004






Features

SBC DSL Basic Service

Communications Advantage (CA)

Advantage

Speed

Maximum Information Rate:

1500 Kbps download speed -128 Kbps Upload speed

1500 Kbps download speed - 1500 Kbps upload speed

Advantage CA

Committed Information Rate:

384 Kbps download speed
- 128 Kbps upload speed

256 Kbps download speed
- 128 Kbps upload speed

Advantage SBC

Other Transmission Rates

Other Speeds Available up to 45Mbps or more

Other Speeds Available up to 45 Mbps or more

Even

Coverage

Service Limited to 2-3 miles from Central Office in Jackson or Sutter Creek

Over 30 square miles in the Mother Lode and surrounding areas. See coverage area map

Advantage CA

Protection/Security

One level of security through built-in firewall in the router.

Protected at four levels of security/privacy:

Advantage CA

Air-points scrambling-

Frequency Hopping Technology-

Firewall at Network Operations Center-

Wired Equivalent Protection

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

VPN Available with extra charge

VPN Available at no extra charge

Advantage CA

Internet Protocol Address Type

Dynamic IP Address is Standard - Static IP address available at extra charge.

Static IP Address Standard at no extra charge

Advantage CA

Flexibility of Use

Stationary-single point of connection standard.

Mobile connect to any access point within range on network. Networking available.

Advantage CA

Free Dial-Up Account

Limited usage standard dial-up for backup

SlipStream hi-speed dial-up. Use for business or vacation travel in California and many other states (access numbers available via our home page or call us), or use for emergency backup (minimum value $14.95/month)

Advantage CA

Installation Cost $250

$200 for 3-year plan or add $10/month to service fee for 2 years.

Advantage CA
Equipment Cost

$149

None-company owned and maintained equipment

Advantage CA
Service Costs

Regular Recurring Monthly Cost

$49.95 plus $10 (est) taxes and surcharges.Total - $59.95. $49.95
no taxes/surcharges
Advantage CA
Promotional Discounts, Incentives and Conditions $26.95 per month plus $5.40 (est) taxes/surcharges for first year. Total - $32.35. Must be current SBC customer and order online or combine with another package such as long distance .

No Conditions - $39.95 per month when combined with long distance as low as 3.9 cents/min state-to-state, 5 cents/min in-state

Advantage SBC

Total Three Year cost including promotional discounts and Taxes and Surcharges

$1826 (est)

$1438/$1798 (with/without combined long distance)

Advantage CA - Save $29 to $388

Source: SBC Web site: 05-30-2004