Do you have older families members who are still paying big bucks every month for dial-up? A recent AOL financial filing showed five million people still pay $25 or more each month! For dial-up!!

Elders may not know how easy it is to switch to high-speed Internet. Many cable companies offer entry-level cable modem service starting at $15-$25 month. However, this may not be an option in some remote rural communities.

Also, it's important to note that you can fire AOL and still keep your aol.com e-mail address. No need to throw away $300 annually anymore!

So If you have an older person in your life, just ask them, "Hey, are you still on AOL dial-up?" Help them out and save them some money.

Technology companies love to hook customers into contracts (euphemistically called "agreements") because they're scared of competition.

For example, both Clark and his executive producer Christa are Clear customers for high-speed Internet. Christa signed a contract, while Clark went the non-contract route.

Now Christa can't get a signal in the townhouse where she and her family are temporarily living. So she has to pay $5/month to suspend the service for an anticipated nine or 10 months while flood damage in her main residence is repaired.

Clark, meanwhile, is not getting a decent signal at his house. As a non-contract customer with Clear, all he had to do was cancel his service and go back to a cable or phone provider for high-speed Internet.

In related news, Verizon Wireless has raised its termination fee to $350. That's simply outrageous!

The key rule here is that when you sign up for any service -- cable, satellite, home phone -- you must find out if there's an "agreement." You may have to sort through 40 or more pages of legalese to find out like Clark recently did. Why can't we have a simple, one page plain English disclosure about this stuff?!

Clark despises monopolies. He has a built-in prejudice that makes him automatically expect bad things from them. One of his least favorite monopolies (one that invariably gets some of the lowest score in customer satisfaction ratings) is the cable industry. Comcast, the nation's largest cable operator, is not only raising rates by around 5%, but it's recently begun to put caps on the usage of its Comcast internet service. What's driving this? Clark says to look toward South Korea, which has one of the most advanced internet systems in the world. Younger Koreans no longer subscribe in large numbers to pay television. They watch TV mainly over the internet and on their advanced-technology media phones. Over the next year or two it will become much easier to get internet programming onto your big screen in this country as well. Comcast is very afraid of this trend, and has responded with this cap on internet usage. If you exceed their limit, they'll fire you as a customer. Time Warner Cable is looking at metering internet usage as well.

Even though the US pioneered the web, our internet capacity is now at third world standards. Other countries are much more advanced, and pricing reflects that. For example, Korea's ultra-fast high speed connection costs only about $7 a month - compare that to what you're paying here in the States! You can thank the cable monopolies for that.

Clark recently told you about Time Warner's experimental metering plan for Internet service in Texas. They'll be charging their Lone Star State customers per kilobyte. Now AT&T has announced that such a plan is nearly inevitable for them.

What's going on here?

These ISPs are in terror of people skipping cable or satellite and going straight to the Internet to watch video content. Think about it: Comcast, too, has already admitted degrading the Internet experience of its customers when they watch a competitor's video content. Are you beginning to see a trend here?

Clark's staffers Kim and Joel both watch TV on the Internet, especially via Hulu.com. It's just like on-demand TV without having to pay for anything.

The cable/phone monopolies are trying to choke their Internet customers. This is a byproduct of our nation's shortsighted policy, where only the monopolies control the Internet.

There is, however, a hope on the horizon. Stay tuned for a new wireless way to get on the Internet that will bypass the cable/phone monopolies.

Meanwhile, Kiplinger's has crunched the numbers and figured out that downloading a single movie under Time Warner's metered Internet plan will cost you $30. Imagine if you download 10 movies per month!

They want to eliminate your freedom to watch video with a Time Warner Internet connection. Don't stand for it; anytime an ISP tries to meter you, you need to take your business elsewhere!

Unlimited Internet use has become something of a given in modern life, whether you access via dial-up, DSL, cable modem or another way.

Until now.

Time Warner is launching an experiment in Texas with metered Internet. Much like your utilities, you'll be charged based on your usage.

Why are they trying out this "Dark Ages" approach? Clark believes the cable companies are terrified of people watching TV shows on the Internet for free. It completely demolishes their main business model.

But Time Warner doesn't have a chance with this experiment, according to Clark. This business model could only work if they were the sole provider of the Internet, but that's not the case. There are so many more choices coming, including WiMAX and even the wireless cards from cell carriers that are close to becoming cost-effective.

So if you're in the testing grounds in Texas, don't think you're a sitting duck. Just go to a monopoly phone company for Internet, even if that's the only other choice. At least they aren't metering!

The United States isn't even in the Top 10 worldwide when it comes to a good Internet experience -- we're 15th. Our Internet is slower, more expensive and less reliable than many other developed nations. We're even below some Third World countries! But new technologies coming into the market will blow things open and promise a much different experience -- without metering.

Clearwire is poised to make a huge expansion thanks to a new deal with Sprint Nextel. Over the next 18 months, most midsized cities will have this ultra hi-speed Internet that's superior to what you can get from the monopoly companies. In fact, it's already up and running in Baltimore and Chicago. Clearwire will use WiMAX technology to blanket additional metro areas with a signal. Google, Time Warner and Intel are among those who have staked money on this new deal.

Clark's used Clearwire for about 4 years. Interestingly though, the company hasn't exactly been a financial or operational success so far. That's because what they have offered hasn't necessarily been compelling in price and capability. But that's all likely to change now. Clearwire will deliver true wireless flexibility where you can access hi-speed Internet anywhere. Another fringe benefit may be what Clark calls "poor man's cell phones." These handsets will run you about $3 to $5 a month for unlimited calls!

We've fallen so far behind the rest of the world in Internet experience and price. That's because of the stranglehold the monopoly phone and cable companies have had. But this new Clearwire development may just bring us up to speed. (Editor's note: Some users have reported negative experiences with Clearwire.)

There are some new technological developments that Clark is very excited about. Say, for example, you want hi-speed internet. If you call your phone company to get it, you'll find out that you must purchase a landline as a prerequisite. The phone monopolies think they're smart pushing obsolete landline technology on consumers who want modern DSL. But the phone companies are just outsmarting themselves. When younger customers seek DSL, they don't even think about installing a phone line. They simply go through their cable companies and sidestep companies like AT&T and Verizon completely. So AT&T is now experimenting with offering what's called naked DSL that stands alone without having the requirement of a landline.

The Chicago Tribune reports AT&T will roll out a naked DSL trial service -- priced between $20 and $24 -- in Chicago; Austin, Texas; and Jacksonville, Florida. If it succeeds, look for it in other markets soon. Meanwhile, if you're a former Bell South (now AT&T) customer, you'll be eligible for naked DSL by December at the latest. That's as per a contractual agreement between the two companies. On another technological front, The New York Times reports that Time Warner is going to offer free DVRs in South Carolina that allow you to watch TV when you want -- only you can't skip the commercials like you would on TiVo. It's like renting your eyeballs, so to speak, to advertisers in return for free DVR service. Will this business model survive in the marketplace? Only time will tell.

You may be getting a great deal on high-speed Internet access, but how long will that last? These companies are charging us way too much for access. Clark tells you how to get a deal from these companies. Listen up! Just remember to click on the link only once and disable your pop-up blocker by holding down your Control key.

Americans are paying exorbitant prices for high speed Internet compared to other developed countries. The industry has been under the control of a shared monopoly: the cable and telephone industries. And, we’re paying about 8 times as much in the States. But there is some hope for us. First of all, high speed Internet through power lines is becoming more of a reality. The biggest rollout is going on in Texas, where about 2 million people will have access to Internet access through the “BPL” or broadband over power lines. You just plug your Internet connection into the electrical outlet, and you can move it around the room to any outlet. It will be much cheaper than the phone line or cable service, possibly getting down to as little as $5 a month. Ohio is also experimenting with BPL and hopefully others will pick up on it. So, there are little rays of hope out there for Internet users. But right now, we’re stuck way behind the rest of the world.

The FCC has approved the takeover of AT&T by SBC, one of the major long distance companies in the country. AT&T, once the proudest name in corporate America, is no more. Now, AT&T wireless has disappeared, the cable provider dissolved and now the entire company itself is no more. But funny enough, people don’t know who SBC is. So, ironically, SBC is adopting AT&T’s name. The company knew AT&T had great name recognition, even if it’s negative. The good news is that because of this merge, people can now get high-speed Internet access without having to sign up for local phone service. Also, if you have an alternative phone service such as Vonage or Packet8, it will be illegal for these companies to block that access. Several other companies are doing that and playing dirty pool. But with SBC and Verizon, it will be illegal and, in turn, the rate will be much cheaper.

Clark talked last year about experiments with high speed Internet through the power company. It’s known as BPL – or broadband over power line – in the trade lingo. It started in Cincinnati, and now is in a suburb or Washington. There has been no competition in this business, so prices have remained high. Now that BPL is competing with phone and cable companies, prices are sure to go down. And, as long as you have an outlet in your house, you can get BPL. Prices have settled at $29.95 a month, but looking forward pricing is going to get cheaper and the speed will get faster.

America has the highest prices and the slowest services when it comes to high-speed Internet. We’re falling behind many other countries as a result. So, what if high-speed Internet wasn’t just faster and cheaper but was FREE! Google is considering launching free Wi-Fi in exchange for showing you ads. Google is being very secretive about this, but the company is testing one of its “betas” called “Google Secure Access.” Google would be your homepage and you’d have to register. But after that, it’s free. We need to widen our thought patterns here. We have phone companies charging upwards of $25 and cable companies charging about $40 for high-speed access. In other countries people pay about $5 a month. So, the idea of free Wi-Fi is very exciting. Google has the resources to throw a lot at this and Clark is cheering for them. We’ll let you know what happens.

Americans pay some of the highest prices for high-speed Internet in the world. But companies have not been able to get a lot of people to take the bait because it’s so expensive. But it’s all about to change. Recently, SBC, announced it would offer high-speed service for $14.95 a few weeks ago. Quest, the local phone company in the MidWest, is offering a $20 for monthly service plus junk fees. Now, Verizon has made the same deal as SBC. The SBC and Verizon services are not as fast as some cable or other DSL connections, but they’re much cheaper and are just fine for the average Web surfer. Unless you have a special need for an ultra high connection, you should check out Verizon and SBC’s offers. The marketplace is shifting in this area, and other companies will have to reduce prices to compete.

Clark has been thinking of changing his high-speed Internet service because it’s getting so expensive. For most people it’s a two horse race, and Clark is one of those folks. Right now, it’s either the local monopoly phone company or the local monopoly cable company. Recently, the phone company cut the rates and he was about to switch, but he decided to call his current company first to see if they would offer him a better deal. He’s currently paying about $43 a month, which is outrageous. When he told the “customer retention specialist” that he was about to cancel, she offered him three months for $9.99 a month. She told him to call back again in 90 days to see if he could get the same deal. He was so excited about saving $100 in a four minute phone call that he told everyone. Then his Smart Money magazine arrived and knocked him down a notch. The issue, which is about saving on cable and Internet service, says not to take any three-month offers and to keep fighting for more. The reporter was able to get a discount on service for an entire year! Phone companies are also reducing costs, so you may want to consider switching companies all together, as Clark was about to do. Also, if you can, cut your home phone line to the minimum line cost. You don’t use it much anyway, thanks to cell phones, and you can usually get it down to between $17 and $20 a month total. Also, consider scaling back your cable or satellite service. Get just the broadcast channels. You may also be paying way too much for your cell phone service. Now that you can take your number with you, consider switching to Metro PCS or Cricket. They offer unlimited calling in your local area for one low price.

More than half of people with Internet access use high-speed service today. The problem is that the cost of these services is much higher than it is in other countries, while the service is much slower. Now, a few initiatives traveling around Capitol Hill will make it even more of a monopoly industry. But Clark doesn’t think it’s all doom and gloom. In spite of what appears to be very anti-consumer measures going on, Clark thinks this is just a brief stop on our way to much more options and cheaper prices. We are on the edge of getting high speed Internet service from all kinds of alternative ways, including over the phone line and through our power companies. One thing to remember is not to sign a contract for high-speed service right now. If you do, you won’t be able to take advantage of the great offers when they come along. So, keep it month to month for now.

Technology is everywhere these days. Clark wants you to be careful when signing up for high-speed Internet. He’s leery of you signing a contract with your cable or DSL company because costs are so high. Not to mention the fact that new, cheaper ways of connecting are on the horizon. A third way to get high speed Internet is now in certain cities in Florida, Minnesota and Texas. You can now connect over wireless connections and via your phone line in some cities. A company called “Clearwire” is offering this kind of technology, which is called Wi-Max. Service starts at $24 a month. Also, Sprint will have a wireless Internet service accessible through your cell phone later this year. So, traditional high-speed companies have a lot to fear with these new technologies. They’re going to try to gouge you as a result. Don’t get taken. Hold out for the cheaper high speed service. (Editor's note: Some users have reported negative experiences with Clearwire.)

How would you like to access the Internet for free or almost free worldwide? People in Asia, for instance, pay about $5 a month for high-speed Internet access. About half of the American public now has high-speed access, but we are still way behind many other countries. That’s because it’s so expensive here, with prices ranging from $40 to $50 a month for high-speed service. The way to reduce that cost today is to build high speed networks within your community. You can use what’s called “Wi-Fi” or wireless technology, or you can go to restaurants and coffee shops to work on a high speed wireless connection. The phone companies and cable companies are terrified of this development. They have had a monopoly on the high-speed Internet business and, therefore, can charge you whatever they want. They are so scared of the “wi-fi” trend that they have gone to Congress to fight it. Apparently it’s worked in Pennsylvania, where it is now illegal to use these networks. It’s just ridiculous. Why don’t these companies simply offer more affordable prices instead of trying to eliminate competition?

About 80 percent of people with Internet access still use a dial-up connection. The rest pay for high-speed Internet access through either the phone or cable company. Until now, the monopoly phone and cable companies have kept prices high for high-speed access, usually about $50 a month. As a result, many people say it’s just not worth it. But there is good news on the horizon, and it will happen in the next year or two. Verizon Wireless has established a high-speed network over its wireless phone system in a few cities. They will roll it out across the country by the end of the year. Sprint has just announced it will do the same thing. Sprint had no intention of rolling out its plan this year, but the company is worried about Verizon’s success. Cingular plans to join the bandwagon next year, as well. So, what will happen to price? Clark says $15 to $20 is a reasonable amount to charge, and eventually it will get down that low.