America Online Inc. on Thursday tried to energize its push into the broadband market, offering high-speed Internet access for $29.95 a month through Covad Communications Group.

The offer followed by a day a promotion by SBC, the nation's second-largest phone company, which offered broadband service for $14.95 a month in its 13-state area. Both plans are for DSL service and require a 12-month contract.

AOL, based in Dulles, Va., has suffered from a steady decline of dial-up subscribers, as many of them have moved to broadband services offered by cable operators and telephone companies. Covad, San Jose, Calif., offers DSL service in 44 states.