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>>Yeah, DirectPC's upstream speed is (currently) limited to analog modem upstream speeds, but whatever this SpeedChoice is (cable modem?) should do much better than that. If it is cable, you should be able to pump through whatever bandwidth isn't already in use. Bell Atlantic is rolling out ADSL with downstream speeds of 640K at $59.95 a month (not _here_, yet, of course).
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>SpeedChoice is some kind of wireless service (not cable). They come out and set up some kind of about a 6" mini receiver. It's not satellite (not available in all areas), maybe some kind of local RF.
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>>As far as the fiber/copper thing: As long as the connection can be digital (no A/D conversion) from your house to the C.O., you *should* be able to get xDSL. I'd call and ask again just to be sure...
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>Maybe I will. It's just that I've called pretty frequently over the last 18 months. I wouldn't want to make too much of a PITA of myself. (THAT would be a first!) ;)

So SpeedChoice probably has the same modem-for-upstream-data that DirectPC does.
The funny thing about the RBOC's and CLEC's is that many layfolk understand as much or more about high speed data lines as they do (though this is changing). ISDN has been around for 15+ years; you'd think it would be umbiquitous, but these are big, slow behemoths we're talking about, not used to providing top level customer service (though that's changing, too).

I've heard of people who - after finding out they'd have to wait 6 months for an ISDN or frame relay line to be installed - called and ordered a dry-contact (fire/burglar alarm) line to be installed. Of course the phone company understood dry-contact and would have the line installed in a week or so. These folks would slap an ISDN modem or CSU/DSU on the end of that baby and voila!.... My point being, it never hurts to ask again. I suppose the phone company *could* be doing A/A/D where your copper turns into fiber, but...