Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are a new class of business that suddenly came into being within the last few years. These providers are simply folks who own large computers with direct connections and hard drive space for rent. When you sign up with one of these providers, you can get varying levels of service. Most people get some kind of PPP access and drive space for email and other permanent document storage. In this way, you always have an Internet presence online, for a relatively small amount of money. Many of the ISPs offer programming services and business accounts, so you can get a web page for your small business, for example. The ISP approach is probably the best bet if you plan to be connected to the Internet for more than a few hours a month, and want to experiment with other Internet ideas such as building homepages and doing business online.
The problem with ISPs is that the business is so new that there are very few controls. Check around with any of the computer types you know to see which are the most trustworthy ISPs in your area. This field is bound to change as telephone companies and other large corporations get into the fray.