BLAZING NET ACCESS: HERE OR NEAR

Could it be the end of the "World Wide Wait?" The derogatory play on the words "World Wide Web" is employed by Internet users tired of waiting for Web pages to load.

For many area Internet users, the wait is over.
The two cable companies that serve the Joliet area, MediaOne and TCI, both are in the process of rebuilding.
The work will include the installation of the fiber optic cable that will make high-speed Internet service possible.
How fast?
"Fifty times faster" (than over traditional telephone lines), said Martha McGreal, local services coordinator for MediaOne Express, the cable company's Internet service.
Users, she said, really have to see the tremendous increase in speed to believe it.
MediaOne Express promises speeds of up to 1.5 megabytes per second to the computer and up to 300 kilobytes per second from the computer.
In comparison, a 28.8K modem could download a 55MB file in about 4 1/2 hours while MediaOne Express would download the file in less than five minutes.
MediaOne serves Joliet, Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Lockport, the Lincoln-Way area and other area communities.
MediaOne Express already is available in many of those towns.
To determine if MediaOne Express is available in your community, check the Web site, www.mediaone.com or call (630) 716-2800.
"We are still in the process of rebuilding," McGreal said.
The Internet service is being added on a town-by-town basis.
Likewise, TCI is in the second year of a four-year rebuilding process, said Christopher Bona, a TCI spokesman.
The company serves Morris, Minooka, Channahon, Wilmington, Braidwood and other area communities.
Bona said he expects TCI to have its TCI At Home Internet service available in those areas within a year.
When the service becomes available, Bona said, customers will be notified. TCI customers also can call the regional office at (812) 332-0463 for information.
Besides speed, cable Internet service offers other advantages: There's no need for a second telephone line and it's always on.
Installation of MediaOne Express costs $99.95 with monthly charges of $39.95 if you also subscribe to TV cable service.
For Internet service only the cost is $49.95 a month.
McGreal said installation is a two-step process.
First, workers install the cable line for the computer.
Next, a data technician installs the special cable modem, Web browser and sets up an e-mail account.
MediaOne Express installs a customized version of Netscape, but any other browser can be used.
America Online fans can retain that service, however they would also keep the additional AOL service charge.
Then the technician demonstates the services to the subscriber.
"We are a full-service ISP (Internet Service Provider)," McGreal said.
Also provided is the ability to create and hosting of a personal Web page.
Bona said charges through TCI will be similar with installation and set-up costing about $150. However, Bona said, when the Internet service becomes available customers can look for special price promotions.
Another advantage of the cable revolution will be customers can get a variety of services and only one bill, Bona said.
Those services could include cable television, high-speed Internet access and local telephone service. Surf's up
Here in the landlocked Midwest one can only dream about being on the beach and living the life of a surfer dude.
If you can't afford a trip to the coast, the Internet can help out.
For the first time, Billabong will present live on the Internet a world championship surfing competition from Thursday through July 11 at Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa.
Fifteen women and 44 men will compete.