[crASH]

In addition to Tommy's point, when I had DSL(before cable), I think the connectivity/download/upload speeds were also determined by the distance between your modem and the ISPs "central station" or something to that effect.

My house was close to one of these "stations" but we still had dreadful service. If you are a relatively long distance from one, I think poor service might be the norm. If your local cable provider can provide internet service, it might be worthwhile to investigate. It made a WORLD of difference for us, for whatever the reasons.