My folks and I have been using Comcast since the tail-end of the 90s (for about three years, we had previously been using the satellite service that was formerly known as PrimeStar), so I really don't know about whatever other options are available out there: I do know that satellite services like Dish Network and DirecTV are big competition around these parts, but from experience, the cons definitely outweigh the pros when it comes to satellite services . . . I can remember as a kid, whenever there would be bad weather, like unpredictable summer thunderstorms driving us neighborhood kids indoors from playing outside, we'd lose our signal/reception, so that's when I would kill time by playing Nintendo or something.
As far as phone services go, however, a company called BellSouth used to have the monopoly in these parts, but I believe they were eventually absorbed by AT&T. We used to use them for our landline, but several years ago, bundled our internet and phone with Comcast . . . which, admittedly, I kind of miss having a separate phone/internet service through the phone company . . . DSL was, surprisingly, a much more reliable internet connection than through the cable company . . . not to mention, the connections were separate, so if, say, if the phone was disconnected, the internet wouldn't be affected, whereas with a bundle service from the cable company, if one thing is disconnected, everything else is too. We still use AT&T for all of our cellphones, and because we've been with the company for so long, they've grandfathered us into their old 10-cents-a-minute plan that we can renew every month - in the long run, it actually does pay to be loyal to a company's service.