What is DSL?
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) rides the copper phone network. Speed depends heavily on distance from the equipment: close-in addresses might see 100 Mbps; rural line-ends often get 10–25 Mbps with uploads of 1–3 Mbps. No data caps and wide availability kept DSL relevant, but its economics are ending — AT&T, Frontier, CenturyLink, Windstream, and Consolidated are all converting copper footprints to fiber.
Providers still offering DSL
CenturyLink / Quantum Fiber
- Plans from $45/mo (checked July 2026)
- 3,662 ZIP codes · 21 states (FCC)
- Up to 8 Gbps · Fiber & DSL
Frontier
- Plans from $49.99/mo (checked July 2026)
- 5,885 ZIP codes · 26 states (FCC)
- Up to 7 Gbps · Fiber & DSL
AT&T
- Plans from $55/mo (checked July 2026)
- 24,531 ZIP codes · 49 states (FCC)
- Up to 5 Gbps · Fiber, Internet Air & DSL
Kinetic by Windstream
- Plans from $39.99/mo (checked May 2026)
- 2,845 ZIP codes · 20 states (FCC)
- Up to 2 Gbps · Fiber & DSL
Consolidated / Fidium Fiber
- Plans from $30/mo (checked May 2026)
- 1,694 ZIP codes · 21 states (FCC)
- Up to 2 Gbps · Fiber & DSL
EarthLink
- Plans from $39.95/mo (checked May 2026)
- Up to 5 Gbps · Fiber & Wireless (reseller)
Before you order DSL, check these instead
- 5G home internet — 30,527 ZIPs covered (FCC); typically 100–400 Mbps for $35–$50/mo. Beats DSL on every axis where signal is decent.
- Starlink — everywhere, 100–280 Mbps, from ~$50/mo.
- Fixed wireless — regional providers like Rise Broadband in 15,312 ZIPs.
- The same carrier’s fiber — if your provider offers fiber on your street, the upgrade usually costs the same or less than legacy DSL.
See every dsl internet provider at your address:
Call (855) 643-8023Frequently asked questions
Is DSL internet still worth getting?
Only when nothing better serves the address. FCC data shows 5G home internet covering 97% of ZIP codes at $35–$50/mo with 5–10× DSL’s typical speed — check that first, then satellite. DSL’s remaining niche is addresses with no 5G signal and no line of sight.
How fast is DSL?
Advertised tiers run 10–140 Mbps down depending on carrier and line length, with uploads commonly 1–20 Mbps. Real speed falls with distance from the node — two neighbors can get very different service.
Is DSL being phased out?
Yes — every major DSL carrier is migrating copper to fiber (AT&T, Frontier, CenturyLink/Quantum, Kinetic, Fidium). New DSL signups are already restricted in some areas. Treat DSL as a bridge, not a destination.
Keep reading
Coverage statistics: FCC Broadband Data Collection, Dec 2024 vintage (residential filings; ZIP counts reflect at least one provider of this technology per ZIP) — broadbandmap.fcc.gov. Pricing referenced as of July 10, 2026; varies by address.