i have att@home in the bay area, and i have been paying $42 since i signed up about a year ago, which includes $10 for a modem rental. i have seen the exact modem i have had the whole time at an auction site for $150 or so, but i don't think it is worth it. my friend has had to change modems many times, so for something like that, it seems a lot easier to just rent it.