Who provides “regular” phone service and Internet Service in Portland? Can I get by with just a cell phone?
The Portland metro area is covered by three counties – Multnomah County (most of Portland), Washington County (southwest Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro) and Clackamas County (southeast of Portland; Clackamas, Oregon City). If you live in Multnomah County, your phone service (and DSL/high speed internet) would be provided by Qwest – you can’t get Verizon. If you live in Washington County or Clackamas County, your phone service (and DSL/high speed internet) would be provided by Verizon – you can’t get Qwest. Qwest offers what is called “Naked DSL” meaning that you can get DSL without actually having voice phone service. Verizon may or may not provide the same thing. However, Verizon has also invested heavily in their fiber optic high speed internet/video service (FIOS) and you can get really fast internet through FIOS – if you are lucky enough to live in Verizon territory! Comcast, which provides cable TV service to most of the Portland Metro area, also provides high speed internet (with
