I think with Directv, you can get a better deal going direct with them at this point, than in a bundle. They have a 20$ for one year plan, and that is with HD and HD DVR, but you could always try to get the bundle deal from AT&T, and have them give you $$ to make up any difference, since they get a spiff for signing up the deal.

Multi-lines from the phone company, AT&T included is a PIA to setup correctly. I know we have all HAD it, but as far as telco switching and systems have come in the past decades, the phone companies aren't really ready for it beyond simply two lines. Fail over, ring no answer, etc, is in nearly 100% of the cases a business service and at that point one needs to have the consumer/residential group WORK with the business services group and that takes TIME, effort and ability (much of which is lacking from both sides)

So, as others have noted here, I would strongly consider getting ONE line from the AT&T (and not comcast) of the world, and then get multi lines from many of the voip guys, vonage has a double line plan. Before doing ANYTHING do your research, there are so many deals, and referral options that can dramatically lower ones monthly/annual bills.

With AT&T one gets access to their 20K+ wifi hotspots for FREE, so that would cover sbux, and a lot of other locations, including ALL the historical WAYPORT locations I believe, which is a lot of hotels and airports. It is also a worldwide service.

I would go with the AT&T + directv solution, not that I don't like comcast, but you might want to have at LEAST one land line. Short of just an emergency line, that one line is going to have costs, which plus the DSL and other things would make the comcast solution not as economical. Comcast does have deals, but they expire usually 6-12 months, and then POP. Nice thing is they can be re-negotiated annually, and/or cancel and move to another service.

As others have said, once you have internet in the house, internet throughout the house is a no brainer, with wifi, or powerline (could be the house is too old for this) that one is really simple. I would recommend though, NOT to use the AT&T wireless/modem/router solutions. They only have ONE solution for this at this time, and it is much easier just to get them to setup the DSL/modem, and then you can control your HOME NETWORKING with a router yourself. The options are greater, cheaper and more customizable based on your needs. Also, as technology develops, wifi standards from B to G to N to whatever, one can just upgrade the technology on their timeline as oppossed to whenever the teclo gets their act together.

IF you are truly RURAL, then speed could be an issue. It might be as bad as 768kps, but more likely 1.5mb, but it COULD be smoking, not sure. Your tax $$ will be helping that over the next 24 months, so that is something. :-(

If you are doing two lines from the phone company though (which wasn't the above recommendation) I have actually seen people get DSL on TWO lines, and then they bond then for a nearly combined throughput. This is not a typical solution, but it does work to get more speed where there isn't enough.

As for location, there are some solutions for the D* dish during winter, heaters, hoods, bigger dishes, a winter will tell you if there are going to be issues.

If that happens, you could then switch your TV and Internet over to Comcast for a nice WIN OVER referral credit and probably pay six months and get a year!