Clark can’t stand monopolies. He thinks that when there is no competition for service, monopoly companies get lazy and have no incentive to serve customers promptly. For a long time, the high speed Internet industry has been a monopoly. But other companies are experimenting with new wireless offerings that could prove to be a breakthrough. One of these companies is “Clear Wire,” and Clark has had the opportunity to try this service out at his home in Florida. It’s known as “fixed wireless,” and it works by renting out space on cell towers and then sending out wireless signals through the air. The signal reaches about 30 square miles and so far it's worked great. Clear Wire is in parts of Texas, Minnesota, and on the east coast of Florida. You have to buy a little modem that receives a signal from the transmitter on the cell tower. And then you instantly have high speed access. The best part is the price. Clark was paying $43 a month to the cable company for high speed access. Now, with Clear Wire, he pays $24 a month. What a deal! The only downfall is that there is a contract and a $250 cancellation fee. So, if it turns out not to work for Clark, he won't be happy about paying for it. Find out more about it at
clearwire.com. (
Editor's note: Some users have reported negative experiences with Clearwire.)