Broadband AUPs
If you depend on cheap broadband connections, you must consider the
appropriate use policies (AUPs) of
your broadband providers.
A.8.1 Cable
There are already
laws on the books that restrict the sharing of cable
bandwidth—cable companies have been dealing with the issue
since the birth of their industry in the 1960s. AUPs may not need to
spell out restrictions explicitly covering the sharing of Internet
access with neighbors. Also, the cable industry specifically has
802.11 on their radar; see http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/resource/apr02/webs.html
for details.
Cable providers are scared of NAT, which gives ISP customers the
ability to add additional computers to an internal network without
applying for additional IP addresses. Cable providers are proposing
an alternative to NAT that would allow them to see the actual number
of users behind a NAT box and account for a
customer's usage of their network.
A.8.2 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
DSL providers are
also concerned about oversubscription to their low-cost services.
Bandwidth is expensive, and a $50 monthly fee will not cover the cost
of a 1.5Mbps DSL going flat-out, 24 hours a day. There is a very good
chance that broadband providers will start to charge for extra
bandwidth, cap the bandwidth, or be time-sensitive in the usage.
Some Internet providers make no limitations and actually encourage
"reselling" of the connection.
Normally you will have to pay a premium for this service. Check with
the provider for restrictions.
Here's a sample of an AUP with no restrictions:
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