Kara sorry i just saw this but wanted to tell you for future reference that if you google free phone service you will be taken to alot of alter phone companies that compete with the big guys and can turn your phone on for free the first month and send you a lifeline application and if your disabled get anything in the way of public assist,food stamps,medicaid anything or anyone in your household your monthly bill can be as low as $20 a month,now this is no long distant but a $5 calling card can fix that and if you should lose your braodband at least you can go to one of the dial companies that offer really cheap monthly rates as well as your first month or more free! That way you wont lose this place and the support of friends.
Not alot of alternative to the cable situation and they just keep getting higher with everyone having to switch to HDTV before long,it is either satellite or cable or spend money buying a converter box and antenea that is HDTV capable.
Just google them and if nothing else put them away for a rainy day as you never know and you will have them when you cant have access to internet.
I use one and love it! I have broadband though with basic cable at the moment as they were running a special at the time but the phone option was way out of my league a month.
I had to laugh at the no cable in Florida since all I have is basic,basic, t.v. and only so I can retain my highspeed, I virtually get only the local channels and 4 educational channels. Not more then I would get if I had a converter box for the HDTV. I do just fine with the local stuff myself as when I have more then that I cant make-up my mind what to watch as there is generally more then one thing I want to see on at a time and I find myself switching back and forth not getting to watch the entire anything. LOL
Just wanted to give you the heads up with the lifeline and alternative phone companies as they have been a lifesaver for me living on SSD as I could never pay a normal phone bill ever.