Flat rate etc

• Hi,
  
  I will move to Berlin in September so I have started looking at the DSL offers. They all look the same actually (similar price). However, I dont understand what the "flatrate" is for? I dont understand why we need to pay a flat rate and then a DSL connection? In France, i just pay my line to the equivalent of Deutsche telekom and then I pay a DSL connection (for example 15 euros for 1Mb broadband).
  Can you tell me what this is for and also advise me of a DSL provider you recommend? Thanks,
  

  31 Lip 2006, 11:15 Anonymous