Broadband Background

PC World on high-speed access.

Microsoft on content and providers.

ADSL offerings in Bethesda

DSL is always on, shares the telephone and data line, and requires a modem, which generally you may lease or own.

 Covad  says ok.

 NorthPoint: Get DSL  says "not yet"

 Rhythms  = Price analysis is:

 Rhythms // Where Internet Connections are Moving

These are all the listings in  Broadband Referral - WindowsMedia.com
 
 

Cable Modem is not an option:

Your cable company seems to be:  Cable TV Montgomery is now Comcast

Their high speed internet,  @Home Service   is not yet available.
 

Step 1:  Install Category 5 Wiring before the Furniture in Place

You want a home network.  Here's how to Network Your Home.

Today, the cabling standard is Category 5.  You will need to run cable before you install bookcases and other hard to move things.
 

Step 2:  Sign up for ADSL

So it looks like one of the  Rhythms providers is the way to go.

About ADSL.

Step 3:  Wire the Network and Program the Router

Then you will need several Macintosh/Ethernet adaptors  for the various flavors of Mac you have.  If you want to share the fast ADSL connection, you will nead a   router  which supports DHCP .  It is possible for a modern Mac to act as a router as well as a client, but I don't know how to do this.

The  Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL Router is well reviewed.  Programming the DSL Router is straightforward, but not trivial.

I failed to find DSL Modems for sale at retail.  Maybe you can ask the DSL provider is there is an option to leasing.  (What we really want, of course, is the integrated DSL Modem/Router.  The ISP's wish to charge more money for additional computers attached to their system, obviously.)