🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <4bkjlo$5k9@nntp.igs.net>, ac370@freenet.carleton.ca says...
>
>Hi.
>
>How can I gert my server registered and connect directly to the
>backbone of the Internet?
>
>Basically, I want to know how to become an ISP (more or less).

	Well, unless you've got around $200000 to start off with, you really 
have no choice but to start off with an ISP. (I say $200K because to be 
competitive, you'd need ate _least_ 50 incoming lines, although I'd say more 
like 100, at $75/mo each (business rate, see ISAL tariff debate) + modem costs 
(let's say you go quality, buy 100 USR 28.8's at a decent bulk price of $200 
ea) need at least two machines (One being your main server and the other being 
your gateway/router) you'll need those modem boxes (damn, forgot the name, but 
the thing that allows you to rig all the modems together) you _should_ have at 
least one un-interruptable power supply, insurance for the whole thing, a bunch 
of money for Bell as a sort of deposit (What'd they call it? A personal 
guarantee?) Hmm, let's add the costs; modems: $20000 Computers (good ones, lots 
of storage/RAM) $15000, Line costs roughly $500 per line installed: $50000 1st 
months phone service: 7500, uninterruptable power supply: $600, that modem box 
thing $500 (That's a wild guess)guarantee to Bell $50000 (I'd think that's on 
the low side) total so far, start-up: approximately $137000 or so (guestimate, 
too lazy to grab a calculator and my basic math sucks).
	Oh yeah, and that doesn't include the insurance and office space. 
	Your best bet is to have something like 20 lines to start with, get a 
fractional T1 (That allows for expansion, whereas ISDN isn't upgradeable) get 
the modesm (Don'e even waste the public's time with 14.4's, you'll have to 
throw them out next year anyways). I would think you could do it for $50000 if 
you started small... Talk to companies like fONOROLA or e-connect, etc. 
	These are based on what I've heard in the industry, I'm sure some ISP 
owner could give you a much better idea, though I'd hazard to say these numbers 
are fairly close, assuming you don't want to cut corners and buy cheap... Last 
piece of advice: Don't lie to ytour clients about your bandwidth, user-to-line 
ratio or systems capabilities... You'd be amazed at the number of smaller ISP's 
in Toronto who have done that and their rep gets sullied so fast...

Marc Bissonnette
General Manager
Netropolis Inc.

Opinions expressed, naturally, are mine alone