Comcast - Share single connection between offices

[goombawaho]

I've got three customers that have single room offices in the same building, same floor. One of them has Comcast business class internet service. Wondering if it's legal to let the other two share that internet connection if the Comcast customer is willing. It wouldn't be reselling if the connection owner is giving the service away. I know reselling is a no-no.

One of them is a lawyer - I ought to make him answer the question!

I would probably run a cable and give both secondary moochers a router to isolate their internal networks and provide separate wifi.

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.

 

[ChrisHirst]

Wondering if it's legal to let the other two share that internet connection if the Comcast customer is willing

Yes. The ISP will neither know or care how many users are on the connection, whom they work for nor where they are located.

and give both secondary moochers a router to isolate their internal networks and provide separate wifi.

What do you mean by "a router"??

Because it may not be as simple as you hope.

Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Time flies like an arrow, however, fruit flies like a banana.

Never mind this jesus character, stars had to die for me to live.

 

[goombawaho]

Main router is a Cisco RV042 and is connected to Arris Modem in Office 1. So I was going to take 3 ports on the device and make 3 separate VLANs with a cable run to offices 2 and 3 thus segregating network traffic for each tenant. Will put a switch on each cable run if multiple devices are needed.

I could also use a router at the end of the cable (plugged into LAN port) in offices 2 & 3 and then have the option to have separate wifi for offices 2 & 3. Would turn DHCP off so router is actually just a switch and access point.

But, could also leave router acting as a router and use firewall - cable run plugged into WAN port of router. Of course this would be a router behind a router, but for simple internet access, not normally a problem.

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.

 

[technome]

But, could also leave router acting as a router and use firewall - cable run plugged into WAN port of router. Of course this would be a router behind a router, but for simple internet access, not normally a problem. "

That what I would do, less to go wrong/easier on your end, just allow Internet access, let them worry about access/security between themselves. Legal as long as there is no money exchanged,at least that is what most providers stipulate. Of course you are sharing bandwidth, if I were the Comcrap customer, I would not be happy sharing bandwidth for nothing; even if they pay something, it is not like Crapcom provides abundant bandwidth for the money.

Any wild chance do you have 2 RV042(s) hardware VPNed together with Comcast? , Have with TimeWarner but failed with your guys. They made a lot of promises,I spent two days trying to get the Ciscos hardware VPNs to connect (bridged); worked for 5 minutes, that is it. In NY had 2 Cisco RV042s (bridged via TG1672Gs) connected in less then an hour. I would still like to get it going for the client, they have a 4 TB backup unit wasting away unconnected, but I can't spend days doing it, with a 100 mile round trip .








........................................
Chernobyl disaster..a must see pictorial

http://www.kiddofspeed.com/default.htm

"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, 1949

 

[goombawaho]

I think I've got my options nailed down then in terms of connections. I was most concerned about whether the internet sharing would be "Comcastic" or verboten.

I've never done the site to site VPN with the RV series, but I've seen other people doing it with Comcast or AT&T internet so I know it works. There are lots of articles out there on how to configure, so maybe keep banging your head on it. Don't you have PPTP VPN or Cisco VPN set up on the RV042 so you can remote in to the customer and then you could work on getting the site to site established remotely!!?? That's why I buy these units - remote access for me and my customers to their network/PCs. Beats driving across town for a three minute fix.

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.

 

[kjv1611]

That can be legally tricky. You can get in heaps of trouble on that one. I'd suggest you leave that to the lawyer customer to be sure. If they are separate entities, not the same business, then I'd HIGHLY suggest each purchase their own Internet service. The technicalities you can handle no problem I'm sure, but legalities is where it gets complicated. I believe all Internet providers have a clause in their terms of use that state you cannot resell nor share your Internet connection with others. It'd be like saying you have an unlimited mobile data plan that you're going to allow others to use by using a mobile hotspot.

Long story short: I wouldn't get involved in that... I wouldn't touch it with a 9 1/2 foot pole!

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57

 

[ChrisHirst]

That can be legally tricky. You can get in heaps of trouble on that one

Not especially, it is just the same thing as having a building proprietor/manager as the purchaser of an ISP connection and then making it available to all occupants. Which is common practice in multiple occupancy office blocks.


Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Time flies like an arrow, however, fruit flies like a banana.

Never mind this jesus character, stars had to die for me to live.

 

[goombawaho]

kjv1611 - I know RESELLING is a no-no, like a landlord buying one Comcast connection for 4 tenants in a big house and then charging each of them every month. I could find nothing saying that you can't SHARE your connection as you please.

I looked at the Comcast Business Class terms of service and didn't find anything.

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.

 

[technome]

As to the RV042 VPN, was trying to get a hardware connection between (2) RV042 for speed, client has a a decent amount of backup data to transfer nightly. Worked just fine with TimeWarner, but Comcast blocks the connection with the modem they supplied, even in bridge mode.


........................................
Chernobyl disaster..a must see pictorial

http://www.kiddofspeed.com/default.htm

"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, 1949

 

[ChrisHirst]

NOTHING about this is "illegal", there are NO LAWS or statutes prohibiting this.

There are laws regarding the practice of "Piggy-Backing" another's wireless signal, but nothing prohibits WILLINGLY 'sharing' a "private" Internet connection or even charging for the use of your connection. Comcast 'rules' are NOT LAW, they are implied commercial restrictions intended to drive sales of Internet connectivity from Comcast.

No one is going to be arrested for allowing your friend in the flat "across the way" use your Internet connection for free OR for a fee, and no one will be arrested for allowing the office above your's connect to your router and Internet connection.

Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Time flies like an arrow, however, fruit flies like a banana.

Never mind this jesus character, stars had to die for me to live.

 

[Beilstwh]

At least with time warner they specifically restrict you from running a cable to another business or address. I would have the lawyer read the contract. In new York it is considered as theft of service and you could get hit with a heavy fine.

Bill
Lead Application Developer
New York State, USA

 

[ChrisHirst]

At least with time warner they specifically restrict you from running a cable to another business or address

Still not 'illegal' though.

Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Time flies like an arrow, however, fruit flies like a banana.

Never mind this jesus character, stars had to die for me to live.

 

[kjv1611]

Remember this: Whether or not there is a specific statute passed by the legislature or not, when you agree to a contract, you agree to the contract. If the contract states no sharing of the line, then you cannot share. Goombawahoo stated the contract does not state such, which seems a bit odd to me, but I'm not doing the work either. I know where I live, Charter has a very long detailed contract for terms of service, and it includes thing slike no sharing of your Internet connection ,and (for residentia), no hosting websites.

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57

 

[goombawaho]

Well, somebody look at the service agreement and tell me I'm wrong. I searching through it and SHARING comes up but in terms of file sharing - like bootlegging, torrents.

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.

 

[goombawaho]

Oh snap - I found it myself. Looks like I recommend against this idea now.

Link

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.

 

[goombawaho]

Nice however that Comcast shares YOUR internet connection via their hotspots unless you explicitly seek to disable that feature!!! But you try to share it and that's forbidden!!!

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.

 

[ChrisHirst]

Did you read this bit?

The Service cannot be made available to anyone other than you or your authorized employees or contractors

Given that the OP appears to be an authorized contractor, ... ...

Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Time flies like an arrow, however, fruit flies like a banana.

Never mind this jesus character, stars had to die for me to live.

 

[Beilstwh]

The people in the other offices are NOT contractors of the person in the first office!. While you will not be arrested for sharing the service, you signed a contract and they can sue every one involved for the entire cost of the internet service that the other offices were not paying for and penalty and legal fees. You can get a site license from the cable company if you want to supply access to everyone in the building however it will cost much more then those couple of offices forking up the money to pay for their own service.

Bill
Lead Application Developer
New York State, USA

 

[goombawaho]

Yeah - they are three separate business entities if we are telling the truth. I sent them an email and said I recommend not sharing. If they want to share, I'll set it up.

Would I have liability as the IT person for setting it up if they insist? A lawyerly question I suppose - wrong forum.

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.

 

[technome]

Reread the policy, years ago you could share if not compensated, guess a lot of non compensated sharing evolved over the years.

Would I have liability as the IT person for setting it up if they insist?
Depends if you have a lot of insurance .
In a legal battle where your guy gets in trouble with Comcast, I am sure his lawyer would try to pin it on you, suggesting his client knew nothing, that would not go far.
Of course if you do not actually connect the wire (you could do everything else), and let someone else connect it, you are not responsible in any way; your not responsible for informing Comcast of the "illegal" wire run, nor are you required to disconnect the wire; a court can not make you a policeman for Comcast's policy. If you setup up WIFI, and your client (not you) gives out the access code, not your problem.
That said, if the others office can afford office rent, employees etc. let the cheap turkeys get there own broadband account.


........................................
Chernobyl disaster..a must see pictorial

http://www.kiddofspeed.com/default.htm

"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, 1949