Dialup connection speeds slower than 56k

Dialup speeds can be slower than 56k if:
Visionary's modem is analog (check service locations page for each town at http://home.vcn.com)
customer modem is analog (33.6k max)
customer location is greater than 2 miles from downtown
customer location wiring is degraded
customer is on a split line (sometimes, a phone line is split into two at customer location to deliver two voice lines)

It is typical for a line longer than 6 miles from downtown to only allow 26k of dialup throughput.

It is also typical for static on the phone line to affect modem speed, regardless of whether static can be heard. Voice traffic uses a small portion of the phone line, and does not require as many resources as a modem.