Bell Atlantic DSL service is spotty. My connection's on old infrastructure. Static IP, but unfortunately the routing infrastructure breaks every four to six weeks, and they don't fix it until the AM. They usually fix it at 9am on Monday, so I know it's not like they can't fix it, they just won't. If it breaks Friday at 6pm, you're down for the rest of the weekend - *poof*.
My friends who have PPPoE service from BA report that it too, is spotty. Probably the same problem, but since they can't keep their IP while the problem is ongoing, they can't "see" what, if anything, is being broadcast by the router.
After my third weekend outtage in less than a year, I had a second DSL line installed from Speakeasy/Covad. I use the BA line for surfing/gaming until it gives out, then reroute to the other line. The Speakeasy line runs my gameserver. I'm quite pleased with their service, and am upgrading to SDSL from Speakeasy/Covad - whenever BA gets off their asses and installs the new local loop I need. Bell Atlantic is known to be... uncooperative... in the area I'm located in.
I am waiting patiently for the day that third party companies can install wiring and offer service that does NOT rely on existing, monopolistically controlled, telephone and cable wiring. As soon as that day comes, I'm ditching BA. Their service is about as bad as it gets, and it definitely comes from the, "We're the phone company. We can do anything we want to," frame of mind.
Getting back to the topic at hand, DSL "modems", for the most part, are dependent on the type of DSL offered. ADSL, RADSL, SDSL, IDSL, etc. Not only that, but there are different variations within those subcategories. Don't buy a modem unles you know for a fact that it will work with your provider's network. I myself have to buy another modem, a SpeedStream 5250, for my new SDSL line. The Speedstream 5260 I'm using now will be a paperweight after the new line's installed - different protocol, different modem.
As to the $10 price reduction on 640/90 DSL service, Bell Atlantic will reduce your bill to $39.95 a month if you agree to have that bill put on your phone bill instead of billed to your credit card. Oddly enough, mine has always been billed to my phone bill. Oh well, I get $10 off now.
Just my $0.02