Re: [IRCA] Wi-Fi legality (OT)

[Tim Kridel <tim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A couple of years ago, a condo listing in downtown Kansas City actually
listed free Wi-Fi from the library down the block as one of the property's
amenities.


> From: Scott Fybush <scott@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Reply-To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America
> <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:31:58 -0400
> To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America
> <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [IRCA] Wi-Fi legality (OT)
> 
> Tim Kridel wrote:
>> Yes, people have been taken to court over this, but it's very rare.
> 
> Here's what I'm thinking:
> 
> Yes, it's technically illegal to "borrow" someone else's home WiFi
> connection, even if they're essentially leaving the door wide open by
> not putting any kind of security on it. (My WiFi at home doesn't
> broadcast a network name and is protected by the strongest version of
> WPA encryption my router will support; even that is no barrier at all to
> a determined hacker, but it at least dissuades anyone sniffing around
> for open WiFi.)
> 
> In practice, of course, open WiFi connections seem to be a dime a dozen.
> I rarely fail to find one when I'm traveling, and sure, I've used them
> from time to time. Who hasn't?
> 
> Perhaps it all hinges on what kind of terms Patrick is on with his
> neighbors. I'm wondering if he could find someone in the neighborhood
> who already has cable, and who'd be willing to have a cable modem
> installed at THEIR house, but with Patrick paying the bills. Patrick
> could then install his own WiFi router at the neighbor's house, which
> he'd then access from home.
> 
> No RFI issues at Patrick's house, no question that the WiFi would remain
> available, and since I'm sure Patrick would be happy to "share" that
> cable modem connection with the neighbor hosting it - and the neighbor
> would presumably be happy to have free high-speed internet service, on
> Patrick's dime - everybody wins, right?
> 
> (OK, maybe not the cable company...but if they're too cheap to shield
> their system properly, which is required by FCC rules, then the heck
> with 'em...)
> 
> s
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