Usually your choices will be dsl, cable internet from the local cable co, or a wireless broadband carrier.
You can go to
www.dslreports.com and they'll give you some idea of what providers are in the area. Caveat: they dont show the major wireless carrier in my area.
DSL is usually less expensive than cable. Dont buy the brouhaha about which is better/worse. They're about the same for the speed quoted, which is usually higher for cable. Only time that high speed comes into play is if you're downloading huge files from a fast supplier. I've had IDSL at 256Kb/s and I"m on 3Mb/s cable now. For browsing and email both were fast and snappy and up all the time.
Your cable company will also probably pull a scam on you where they'll want to charge you $12 more for cable broadband if you dont have cable tv, then offer you basic 20 channel cable tv for $8 or 10. Thats a no brainer for you cost wise, and they get to list you as a cable tv subscriber even if you only got tv to lower your bill. More revenue for them in commercials as they're pitching to more 'eyeballs'. Only problem is that they used to offer the broadband for $12 less than they do now, and only raised the rates to offer this faux "discount" a few years ago.
I had more problems with DSL than with cable. Probably because the cable is more of a shared medium, so if my "cable went down" nobody in the neighborhood was getting signal for tv or cable. Some parts of the network are data specific, but most problems create dozens of complaints phone calls. With DSL its individual media to the wiring closet, and thats where I had problems twice that left me "down" for more than a week at a pop.
Satellite has two problems. Expense and latency. It can be quite a bit more expensive and the pipe turnaround is slow. You ask for a web site...theres a several second delay, then the fire hose turns on and zap, there it is. You ask for a file...several seconds...then blam. Only problem from this is its visibly noticeable and screws up 'real time' services like digital phone, video conferencing, and cooperative games, among other things. Last resort basically.
I'm going to probably move to the local wireless outfit shortly, when I have less on my plate. They're cheaper than cable or dsl for similar speeds. They mount a 10x10x2" box somewhere on the outside of your house, usually on the eaves or chimney, then run a coax cable into the house terminated in a "modem". Advantages for me are good speed for a good price and being able to give the cable company the finger for sticking me with cable tv to get cheap broadband. Disadvantages are potential signal disruption (think of this as cell phone signal quality with the issues associated with that), and requiring a piece of software on each computer that will be connected to the wireless network to make an encrypted "tunnel". So any device that isnt a pc cant be hooked up. I have a couple of tivo's and a kitchen internet appliance. Those wont work with this so I'll need to think up something else for those.
My price structures:
DSL $26.95, not avail because I'm too far away from the CO
IDSL ~$90, 256/128 speed
Cable ~42 with catv, $56 without, 3Mb/1Mb
Wireless $19, 384/128; $29 2Mb/1Mb
Directway sat $100/mo ~500Kb/
Once you have a non-satellite broadband, you can also use something like packet8 or vonage for unlimited long distance service at a low fixed price and no need for the second line.