NOW that Christmas is over, the new computer is out of the box and you're fed up with the free games which came with it, you could be wondering where to go for the best Internet access.

Whether you are a new surfer or you just fancy shopping around to find a better deal, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are falling over themselves to get you signed up.

This is an exiting time to be joining the online community as Internet access is apparently just about to get cheaper thanks to a directive from the telephone watchdog OFTEL.

OFTEL has forced BT to change the way ISPs pay for the connection between your home and the local telephone exchange.

The thinking behind this move is to allow more people to get online without running up huge phone bills and should mean the ISPs' offer of unmetered access becomes a reality for more of us.

So far the Internet giant AOL is offering a flat rate package for £14.99 a month and gives you the chance for a free month's trial, Freeserve will be offering something similar later this month and others will soon join in.

Some of the main issues to consider when signing up are: What are you actually being offered "for free"? Is it just the access to the Internet or does it include calls? Are there any restrictions on the time you can be online? For example BT offers a variety of monthly subscriptions but some are only available at weekends or after 6pm. ntl disconnects its users after two hours online and expects you to log on again. This could be very frustrating if you want to download a large file or want to watch a live event.

Are you being offered any extras which interest you? Some ISPs offer parental controls, extra e-mail addresses, personal web space etc.

Finally, if you find a really good deal or experience problems with the small print of an offer, then share it with the rest of us by sending me an e-mail.