We generally advocate frame relay as the technology when a library seeks to connect a number of sites to a centrally located server. Frame relay pricing is distance independent and the technology is highly scalable from 54 Kbps to T-1; however, pricing varies dramatically from one geographic area to another.
The monthly rate for T-1 frame relay is $243 in Seattle, but $606 only a few miles away in Bothel; $255 in Chicago, but $547 in nearby Oak Brook; $406 in New York City and $418 in nearby White Plains; $458 in Roanoke, but $672 in nearby Salem. To make things even more complicated, a telco has the option of discounting rates for volume users and for not-for-profit organizations. Twenty percent is not uncommon; 40 percent is sometimes possible.
Clearly, the cost effectiveness of frame relay can be highly variable, even within a metropolitan area.
