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For the former cable company in the Maritimes (now part of EastLink), see Access Communications (Nova Scotia).

Access Communications Co-operative Ltd. is a Canadian cable television provider, operating mainly in Regina, Saskatchewan and other nearby communities. It was previously known as Regina Cablevision Co-operative Ltd. but did business as Cable Regina since commencement of service in Regina in 1978 until April 2000 after acquisitions of cable television operations in Weyburn, Estevan and Yorkton and surrounding communities. Dial up Internet service was first offered in September of 1995. Cable modem broadband service followed in 1997. On February 7th 2007, Access Communications launched its primary line telephone service in Regina in direct competition with Saskatchewan's government owned ILEC, SaskTel.

The co-operative's establishment in the 1970s came about only after a prolonged legal and constitutional battle between the federal government and the province of Saskatchewan's social democratic government, which had differing visions of how cable TV service should be delivered to citizens of the province.

Contents 1 Services 1.1 Internet Access 1.2 Telephone 2 External link 3 References

Access offers the following services:

• Internet access, including dial up and high speed via cable modem
• Television, both via traditional cable lines and digital (MPEG video over QAM); High Definition available via digital only
• Telephone service
• Paging
• Web hosting, both for subscribers and commercial entities

One of Access Communication's core services is providing Internet access. Here is a summary of available service options in most areas it services. Options are listed in descending order of service download speed.

Name	Download Speed	Upload Speed	Standard Features	Optional Features	Price
XpressEnterprise	7 Mbits / sec	1.5 Mbits / sec	8 static IP addresses, unlimited e-mail addresses on a custom domain name, 100 MB of web hosting space on a custom domain name, 5 dial up hours	24/7 service, $200 / month	$459.95 / month
XpressCorporate	6 Mbits / sec	1 Mbit / sec	4 static IP addresses, 20 e-mail addresses, 5 MB of web hosting space, 5 dial up hours	up to 4 additional static IP addresses, $9.95 / month each; speed upgrade to 7 Mbits / sec down and 1.5 Mbits / sec up, $74.95 / month; 8/5 service, $249.95 / month	$104.95 / month
XpressPro	5 Mbits / sec	1 Mbit / sec	2 static IP addresses, 100 MB of web hosting space on a custom domain, unlimited e-mail addresses on a custom domain, 5 dial up hours	up to 2 additional static IP addresses, $9.95 / month each	$73.95 / month
XpressHighSpeed	5 Mbits / sec	1 Mbit / sec (in major centers, 640 kbits / sec in some areas)	2 static IP addresses, 5 e-mail addresses, 20 MB of web hosting space, webmail	up to 2 additional static IP addresses, $9.95 / month each; $5.00 / month discount for Access TV subscribers	$45.95 / month
XpressLite	256 kbits / sec	128 kbit / sec	1 static IP address, 3 e-mail addresses, 20 MB of web hosting space, webmail	1 extra static IP address, $9.95 / month; $2.00 / month discount for Access TV subscribers	$25.95 / month
XpressUltraLite	64 kbits / sec	64 kbit / sec	1 static IP address, 2 e-mail addresses, 20 MB of web hosting space, webmail	$2.00 / month discount for Access TV subscribers	$15.95 / month
XpressDial-up	up to 56kbits / sec	up to 56kbits / sec	unknown		$0.99 / hour up to a maximum of $19.95 / month

Access is one of the few ISPs that officially list support for the Linux operating system, as well as provide resources to Linux users.^[1]

Access' digital phone service is interesting in that it is provided by an ATA (Analog Telephony Adapter) with a built in cable modem that communicates over cable lines to a private IP (Internet Protocol) network. In this sense it can strictly be considered VoIP, in that it is voice delivered over an IP network. However, because it travels over dedicated lines, and is still (possibly) usable in a power outage scenario, Access Communications has attempted to distance it from the VoIP moniker. Instead, they have branded it as a "Digital Phone" service, and their marketing and customer service communications strictly avoid using the term VoIP.

• Official site

1. ^ Resources for Linux. Access Communications. Retrieved on February 26, 2007.