Woman Steals Wireless Internet Service

[phi1l]

Maybe not illegal, per se, but very likely a violation of the service agreement with the ISP. In fact I would bet on it being a violation of the service agreement.

But... I think it's a question of what they can enforce. I remember when they used to put "use only for one computer" in the service agreement, & they have given up on that one.

[jussi]

On the subject of legal. Does anyone know if it would be legal to INTENTIONALLY share WiFi with your neighbors? Say for example if my neighbor bought the absolute fastest broadband money can buy, and I pay him to piggy back, he sets me up with the WEP keys etc...

How would that be legally any different than say running a Cat 5 over the fence?

Funny thing is I heard Leo suggest this to a caller recently who called with the same "problem" as this lady.

[jussi]

If you're a fan of Leo this is a pretty funny clip only because you never see him get mad. **Warning** A bit of profanity is used.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsV-lgnAjps

[LarryG]

But... I think it's a question of what they can enforce.

Oh, absolutely. I'm just relaying what the fine print stipulates, not commenting on what people actually do and get away with.

The partial paragraph I quote goes on to provide exceptions for family members or business associates; my ISP recognizes that households nowadays have multiple computers and wireless networks and so they do allow "sharing" in that sense. However, if I wanted to dig more deeply into the legalese, there's probably a stipulation in there somewhere about said family members having to be in the same household, or said business associates having to be at the same physical address. But will they enforce it? Probably not, unless it's a really blatant or visible violation.

The kicker, though, is exactly what Dave said: that same paragraph concludes by saying that I'm legally responsible for whatever happens via my connection whether it happens with my consent or not. So if share my connection with a neighbor, and that neighbor traffics in kiddie porn or drugs ... legally, I could be in deep doo-doo.

(One other thing: Dave asked, "How would [giving a neighbor wireless access to my network] be legally any different than say running a Cat 5 over the fence?" IMO it wouldn't be any different at all, but both would be violations of the service agreement. Again, whether that agreement is enforced is another matter.)

[pelligrini]

The kicker, though, is exactly what Dave said: that same paragraph concludes by saying that I'm legally responsible for whatever happens via my connection whether it happens with my consent or not. So if share my connection with a neighbor, and that neighbor traffics in kiddie porn or drugs ... legally, I could be in deep doo-doo.

Or more often than not, file sharing especially music or video. That will usually get tracked down quicker than the other.

I found I had a few neighbors with wide open wireless networks a couple christmases ago when I got my mom a laptop. She powered it up and had immediate access to the internet.

[vaking]

If your neigbor were to allow you to connect to his WiFi and split the cost of Internet access with you - he would be reselling Internet access. I am pretty certain that terms of residential agreement prohibit reselling of services. May be allowing neigbor computer is no different than your own but accepting money for it makes a big difference. How enforceable it is - that is a separate question.

[jackellis]

I lock down the access point I use for work. We provide wireless access in a rental place and I do not lock that one down, though I'm beginning to have second thoughts now. For example, what's our liability if someone has their identity stolen?

[crokett]

I broke my service agreement with the cable co some years ago. Before my wife and I got married we were neighbors. All she had was dial-up. I added a wireless card to her PC and connected it to my network.

[cabinetman]

I broke my service agreement with the cable co some years ago. Before my wife and I got married we were neighbors. All she had was dial-up. I added a wireless card to her PC and connected it to my network.

We'll keep it a secret.
.

[Tom Slick]

I like the fact that she has no clue that someone may have turned it off. She thinks she needs more gear to get it back.

Some cities, such as Santa Clara, Calif. (silicon valley) have public wifi.
http://www.santaclarafreewifi.com/terms.html