[VoIP] Cable questions

[Jayson Smith]

Hi,
After this eventful weekend of lost DSL, dead DSL jacks, resurrected DSL
jacks (we now have DSL and the jack wasn't replaced), phone line static,
some DSL failures after that, etc. we are getting disgusted with Bell South.
We've found we can actually save some money by switching to cable for
broadband and phone service. I have a few questions.
On the phone side of things, how does this work from a technical standpoint?
Is dialtone being provided by the box they put at the house, or does it
actually connect digitally to a real switch somewhere, which provides
dialtone, ring, busy, etc? Also, if the power goes out, what happens? Do you
get a little battery backup, then dead phones until the power comes back? Is
it possible for a customer to hook the phone converter box up to a UPS, or
is this strictly illegal/impossible/etc? I assume sound quality should be
comparable to ULAW Voip service.
     About Internet, what kinds of speeds can I realistically expect? I
think our DSL is now 1.5 Mbit down, and a lot less than that up. I don't
know what cable is even claiming. Also, does the cable modem typically have
to be hooked up directly to a PC for initial
installation/activation/whatever, then hooked up to a router, or can it
usually all be done from the router?
     One thing I'm dreading is changing E-mail addresses with everybody I
know, do business with, etc. Oh well. Thanks for any info.
Jayson