How Do You Go About Reselling Your Wifi Internet Legally?

[rs14smith]

I've quickly done some googling around to see how I can resell my wireless internet connection to my neighbors (I live in an apartment) for a small fee. However, since I am currently with Comcast, I have read that it is against their TOS to resell your internet .

So does anyone here know how places like Starbucks, McDonalds, Airports, and other small Cafes sell internet legally? Are they signed up with another internet provider other than Comcast?

 

[lewis82]

They don't use consumer internet connections and sign special contracts with their ISPs.

 

[rs14smith]

Oh okay.

 

[fireshot91]

Is it not plausible to do a "pitch-in" type thing, where you each pay $xx, and you all receive the benefits[The internet]?

 

[jwingfie]

Is it not plausible to do a "pitch-in" type thing, where you each pay $xx, and you all receive the benefits[The internet]?

This. I don't see how two roommates splitting the bill is any different than you and your next door neighbor splitting the bill.

 

[wywern209]

It is not allowed because each household is supposed to get its own Internet connection and pay for it each month. If you were allowed to sell your access to other people in your apartment complex then you would be denying Comcast from additional profit. Even if it is evil comcast we're talking about here.

 

[MacDawg]

Just be aware if others are connecting to your WiFi and using the internet, you may be liable for anything they do on the internet - such as illegal torrents, file sharing, porn, etc.

I would think long and hard about allowing anyone to use a signal, no matter how well you think you know your neighbors

 

[noisycats]

Just be aware if others are connecting to your WiFi and using the internet, you may be liable for anything they do on the internet - such as illegal torrents, file sharing, porn, etc.

I would think long and hard about allowing anyone to use a signal, no matter how well you think you know your neighbors

This.

Additionally, you may be throttled based on their activity or at the very least, suffer bandwidth congestion issues.

Then there's the porn and lawsuits issue...

 

[Antares]

Additionally, you may be throttled based on their activity or at the very least, suffer bandwidth congestion issues.

Then there's the porn and lawsuits issue...

Not to mention, hacking. Your neighbors could hack into banks, the Department of Defense, Credit Card companies, etc. and it would all come down on you. You could be aiding and abetting felony activities. Don't even get me started on acts of terrorism which you could be a party to. Oh boy, you're on a slippery slope, rs14smith. If you're not careful, the only site you'll be browsing is PrisonRumors...

 

[dustintexas]

Re-selling Internet

Maybe there should be a law passed that can prohibit the major service providers from limiting your internet access and being able to assist in providing affordable service to your neighbors. They try to own the availability of internet in neighborhoods by preventing anyone else from reselling access. Seems like the best way to avoid these contractual restrictions is to become an ISP yourself. Not all citizens (and illegal immigrants for that matter) are savvy enough to tackle relentless and insufficient providers falsely claiming to have fast services available when they purposely do not have the equipment installed to handle all the traffic. This is a COMMON problem with most providers especially AT&T and COMCAST who are constantly over-selling their capabilities. It makes tech-savvy people like the original person who began this posting and myself want to be a dependable ISP for our neighbors when the major providers are falling ever so short.

 

[samiwas]

...relentless and insufficient providers falsely claiming to have fast services available when they purposely do not have the equipment installed to handle all the traffic. This is a COMMON problem with most providers especially AT&T and COMCAST who are constantly over-selling their capabilities.

I've had Comcast for almost 8 years at our house, and have been nothing short of satisfied. There were some growing pains as our neighborhood grew quickly, but our speeds have been almost always at or above the grade we are paying for and it's only gone out twice for more than a few minutes at a time, and one of those was a major storm that knocked a tree down breaking the wire at the front of our neighborhood. AT&T, on the other hand...

 

[mcdj]

I used to rent my wifi, then I opened this kick ass internets cafe!

 

[noodlemanc]

Just be aware if others are connecting to your WiFi and using the internet, you may be liable for anything they do on the internet - such as illegal torrents, file sharing, porn, etc.

I would think long and hard about allowing anyone to use a signal, no matter how well you think you know your neighbors

Do small businesses that offer free WiFi have some sort of contract with their ISPs that relieves them of responsibility for all that sort of thing? Surely they must have...

 

[Astroboy907]

Do small businesses that offer free WiFi have some sort of contract with their ISPs that relieves them of responsibility for all that sort of thing? Surely they must have...

Ever read the terms of service on the page that pops up before you click accept? Yeah, the page no one ever reads? Some of it is there

 

[noodlemanc]

Ever read the terms of service on the page that pops up before you click accept? Yeah, the page no one ever reads? Some of it is there

Well I've never signed a contract with an ISP for reselling an Internet connection, so I wouldn't know

 

[G51989]

Do small businesses that offer free WiFi have some sort of contract with their ISPs that relieves them of responsibility for all that sort of thing? Surely they must have...

Yes, a business that offers free wifi typically has a business connection which is a lot faster than a home connection. And a special contract that allows them to broadcast their wifi

 

[Huntn]

Not to mention, hacking. Your neighbors could hack into banks, the Department of Defense, Credit Card companies, etc. and it would all come down on you. You could be aiding and abetting felony activities. Don't even get me started on acts of terrorism which you could be a party to. Oh boy, you're on a slippery slope, rs14smith. If you're not careful, the only site you'll be browsing is PrisonRumors...

This scared me...

 

[sophiadcruise]

Re: How Do You Go About Reselling Your Wifi Internet Legally

I think Reselling Your Wifi Internet Legally is not a very tough task. One on whom name and address the Wifi is registered need to cut the connection and re-register on the name of the individual to whom you want to sell the same.

 

[tobeornottobe]

This idea is probably really old, and probably does not work...

I was just thinking about giving your internet for free to your neighbour.

Then do another contract unrelated to this, asking your neighbour to offer you something else like money, food, goods etc. for cheap, like you giving your neighbour $1 just to complete a contract.

But obviously big corporate lawyers already iron out this easy act to protect their own interests.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I've done it before. You can easily throttle bandwidth, set priorities, and rules using your own wireless router. Would also be ideal to set mac filtering, so you can just allow on your neighbors certain devices.

 

[IamDefiant]

In the UK, most of the service providers offer a business line which is exactly the same connection, but twice the cost. But you can resell it. Or give it away to your customers. Some of the UK service providers offer a managed Radius server and resale kit too. Extra charges apply.

Technically, by selling a service, be it wifi to local friends or a commercial wifi network that covers a town. You become a service provider. By becoming a service provider you take on real responsibilities. For your own benefit and legal protection. You would legally need to have a "Data Control Officer" if you're in the UK (sorry not sure about the EU or the US).

The Data Protection Act 1998 (UK), requires every person or organisation that processes personal digital information to register with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Failure to do so is a criminal offence. If individuals wish to do this. It is legal in the UK. Meta data must be stored in accordance with the Act (which account did what when) which will protect the individual or company offering services. Just like any other service provider such as BT or Virgin Media. (see ICO Guide Lines) for further details.

Now to the gritty part. Reselling your internet connection is NOT a criminal offence. It's simply a breach of contract or TOS with your service provider. The worst they can do is disconnect you and black list you from their services. Which might be an issue if you like Super Fast BB. I say who cares? There are so many service providers out there competing for your cash it would be their loss.

The only problem I see with reselling your home wifi is that most service providers know their way around the internet and can easily see an open AP or radius server on their network. In the following diagram you will see a typical home broadband setup with your broadband router connecting wifi clients and relaying the data to the ISP.

Like pervious posters have stated, this kind of setup will be seen by your ISP and can be legally dangerous for the owner of the account should anyone abuse the connection.

But if you set up your network like this and lock down that firewall good.

Your ISP wont be able to see it, unless they hack your firewall which is a criminal offence. Can't see them going that far. Hope this helps

 

[Fzang]

Wow, way to revive an ancient topic.

But if people are still wondering, the solution is thus:

Let's say they're using your wifi as guests, free of charge. Let's also say that they're giving you money as alms, and that these two things are in no way related to one another.

Problem solved!