Finding payable internet

[Michiel]

So, I want to end my cable contract. The issue is, my cable is connected in a combined contract with my internet. My current provider claims it is technically impossible for them to send only the internet signal, it has to be combined with cable. I currently have the cheapest plan available with this provider.
The obvious option would be to switch provider and get an internet-only plan. I have researched this and it turns out that my current provider is the only one that can provide decent speed internet (others can only give me 2mbit/s, which would be too slow if i want to use netflix as an alternative).
Next I looked at the option of getting an unlimited data contract on my cell phone (that would beat the internet speed of other providers) and use my phone as a hub, but a contract like that is too expensive.
The question is then becomes, am I missing some option of getting access to payable, decent speed internet?

[Cole]

I don't know where you live but I call total bullshit on the cable company.

[Michiel]

I would say the same. But the fact is that my provider is originally a cable company so it is logical that they focus on that area. Looking around on their site also shows that they do not have internet only options. My phonecall unfortunately couldn't change that. Maybe I need to try again.
Even though I haven't yet cancelled my cable I really don't use it at the moment. It sucks to be paying for it, but sacrificing my internet feels like a bridge too far at the moment.

[geekette]

You don't say where you are, but in our area the cable company, Time Warner, offers their own high speed internet.  Earthlink also offers it - through the cable company, and for a lower price.  It's even billed by Time Warner! Same pipe, different price.

[Michiel]

I'm from the Netherlands. It should be developed enough to have some good alternatives.
I live in a new neighborhood, in one of the larger cities but right on the edge of it. Apparently this puts me out of range for most providers.

[Spork]

I don't know where you live but I call total bullshit on the cable company.

I'm not sure... I'm reading between the lines and seeing keywords.   It sounds to me like the OP signed a contract to get a package deal for X months... then wants to change mid stream.

If that's the case, I guess you need to sort out the difference between "taking the channels you don't want for X months" and "canceling the contract."

They can surely trap out (at least some of) the channels you don't want, so I don't think this is a technical issue.  And in the days of digital cable, if the channels aren't programmed in the cable box/card... you don't get them.   

...or maybe I'm reading too much into the original post.

[Blatant]

I imagine it's not that the company CAN'T do it; it's that they WON'T do it.

I have access through Cox Cable in AZ. We used to have a cable/Internet package, but cancelled the cable portion. No problem. It does all come into the house on the same coax line, but they can certainly not enable the cable part of the package.

[Bob W]

Satellite internet.

[Michiel]

Of course I am trying to change the contract. However the original term has already passed and I can change or quit the contract on a months notice, so that should not be a problem. They do indeed offer different channel packages, I am currently on the cheapest one. There are no more channels to be trimmed.
I will look into the satelite internet thing, thanks! And also thanks to everyone else for thinking with me, this seems to be an active and helpful community.

[Spork]

Be very careful on satellite internet.  Make sure you understand the fair use policies.  They are likely to cap (or upcharge) your bandwidth during peak hours.