Hawaiian Telcom yesterday slashed the introductory rate for its regularly priced $29.95-a-month high-speed Internet service to $9.99 a month for the first three months.

Hawaiian Telcom's offer, which is only good through Sept. 30, comes as the company faces a new major competitor and complaints about customer service following a change in ownership. Hawaiian Telcom's introductory rate, which is available to new customers with a one-year contract, is currently the cheapest price offered among Hawai'i's three major residential broadband Internet service providers.

Clearwire Corp., which just launched a wireless broadband Internet service in Honolulu, has an introductory rate of $19.99 for three months. After that period, a regular rate of $29.99 to $36.99 applies, depending on download speeds. That excludes a $4.99-a-month modem rental fee and a one-time $50 installation charge, which is waived if users sign a two-year contract.

Time Warner Oceanic Cable currently offers its Road Runner Internet service for $34.95 for six months, after which the regular rate of $44.95 applies. The installation cost for Road runner is $69.95.

Hawaiian Telcom Internet customers also must spend about $20 a month, excluding taxes, for residential telephone service to subscribe to DSL service.

Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com.