DSL provider change? Lower price worth it? Possible?

Howdy, Folks...

Some of ya'll know I live, not in the deep backwoods but, off the beaten trail. Keeping that in mind, our local phone service (Embark) FINALLY started offering high speed a few months ago BUT it is considered "extended reach", which means it is faster than dial-up but not as fast as it could be,and they are not even able to give us a choice of how fast we would like it (or pay for faster speed).

Unfortunately it cost more than what seems acceptable for the speed I'm getting. For example, subscribing to a high speed pkg that they say (on their website) would be 15 Mbps at $30/month is the amount they charge me for only getting a speed of 512 Kbps. Not fair, eh? And why?...because I'm on extended reach and it costs them more.

SO! Keeping that in mind, if our lines only deliver a slower speed to begin with why do I pay so much? And that is when someone told me I can find another DSL provider on the Web who offers cheaper service. If I can find someone who offers service for 10 or 15 bucks a month I would come out to the better, right?

My question is "has anyone changed service providers like this, and if so, do I need to sign up with a new provider before canceling my Embarq internet service line?" I wonder if I cancel my Embark DSL will they pull the plug at the main office (so to speak) and other providers will read it as "no service available" at my location.

Any ideas, thoughts, words of wisdom out there?

Basically, if I can only get a slower speed on our lines then why shouldn't I get a lower price for the service instead of a higher price. That being said, is it wise to bring in a lower-priced DSL provider or what would I be getting into? Has anyone else gone through this before?

Many thanks
Shoe (the miser!)