Comcast's Policy on Home Networks?

[theknight571]

My in-laws are having some electrical work done and I'm trying to convince them to get network lines run to each of the bedrooms while they're working on the electrical.

They were told that Comcast (their internet provider) doesn't support (or allow) home networks.

I've looked at the Comcast website to see if I could find the policy, but haven't been able to locate it.

Does anyone know what the policy is?

For my provider...they don't support them, meaning you can't call and ask questions about it, but they let you have them. (assuming you don't suckup all the bandwidth 😉)

Thanks.

 

[m1ldslide1]

My understanding is that your service agreement with comcast is for 1 IP address. I've talked to them on the phone about it before, and for an extra $5 a month you can add an additional IP address and so on.

However, they don't know the difference between whether you connect a router or a PC to your cable modem. If you connect a router, the router takes the IP address you get from the ISP and then distributes new IP addresses within your LAN.

As far as sucking up the bandwidth, that's not a concern given that your connection is rate-limited based upon what bandwidth you're paying for. You can have one computer sucking up 2 megs or 100 computers on a LAN sucking up 2 megs and it won't affect your ISP - 2 megs is 2 megs to them.

The reason why an ISP won't support your home network is because you buy and set up the gear yourself and they have no responsibility to fix yours or other vendors' mistakes. Sorta like how the phone company won't troubleshoot your cordless phone.

 

[JackMDS]

Comcast Does not allow people to have Home Network?
You are Kidding, Comcast might have some say in splitting their Internet service, but how can they disallow a person from having Home Network.:shocked:

Fact 1. There are Millions in the USA that have Home Network.

Fact 2. Policies can be easily changed.

Fact 3. An opportunity to Wire a house in-walls is priceless.

Fact 4. More and more ISPs offer Routers to their client as part of the service.

Fact 5. When the "Horseless Carriages" were invented, most did not believe that it would replace real Horses.

Fact 6. Even if Fact 1-5 are not understood by some, there are uses for Home Network other than Splitting Internet Connection.

Fact 7. The value of your house goes up if you have in-wall Network & Media installation.

You are welcome to cut and paste and email the above to your in-laws.😉

:sun:

 

[Lord Banshee]

i have 4 computers on one network useing comcast. And yes even comcast offer routers.

 

[Slowlearner]

yep JackMDS is absolutely right - all major cable/dsl providers allow home networks, but dont "support" them - which is no surprise considering that you can have many many diferent combinations of hardware and software running and they arent willing to invest in the time and effort to train their helpdesk personnel.

When I first got rr five years ago, it had specific clauses in its contract prohibiting lans, I went and installed one anyway, and was always worried when I needed service - but about two years ago I looked at their faqs/contract/agreement and found all the prohibitions on home networks had disappeared.

Incidentally, I found (and subscribed to) AT because I was looking for help in setting up a home network, where I guess many people in the networking forums end up as I did.

 

[RebateMonger]

Comcast High Speed Internet Terms of Service

 

[MrDudeMan]

i have anywhere from 15-20 computers hooked up to the internet in my room sometimes, and the comcast guy as been in there and seen it. they dont care. why would they? you pay for X bandwith, and whether you have 1 or Y or Z computers hooked up to it, you still get X bandwith.

 

[Kelemvor]

There's really nothing they can do about it anyway. And they'd have a hard time takinganyone to court since you are juts paying for the line in. What you hook up to it from there is your business as longas you don't start killin gbandwidth and things like that.

Only thing is that if you call them for tech support, don't mention that you have a network or they will just blame everything on your router.

 

[bruceb]

See this part of their agreement where it says yo can Buy your own Cable Modem or Router:

1. Equipment; Access.

1. Required Equipment: You understand and agree that the Service requires certain equipment provided by you, including but not limited to, a personal computer, an Ethernet or other networking device, if required, and an appropriate operating system (the "Customer Equipment"), as well as certain other equipment installed and/or provided by Comcast or its designee, including but not limited to, software, hardware, and external wiring owned by Comcast ("Comcast Equipment"). If you are leasing a cable modem, wireless gateway/router, or other device from us, the cable modem, gateway/router, or other device is Comcast Equipment. If you have purchased a cable modem, gateway/router, or other device (whether from us or from a third party) the cable modem, gateway/router, or other device is Customer Equipment. If you purchase your own cable modem, it must meet the DOCSIS compatibility requirements established by CableLabs, Comcast, and its underlying providers. If you purchase your own gateway/router, it must be a CableHomeTM-certified device in order to receive customer support for it from Comcast. Comcast reserves the right to provide the Service only to the extent that you use equipment, including but not limited to a cable modem or gateway/router, that is compatible with the Service and meets Comcast's specifications and requirements. If you use any equipment that is not compatible with the Service or does not meet Comcast's specifications and requirements, you may not be able to use the Service or some features of the Service and we reserve the right to terminate the Service. Whether a cable modem, gateway/router, or other device is owned by you or us, we have the unrestricted right, but not the obligation, to upgrade or change the firmware in the cable modem, gateway/router, or other device at any time that we, in our sole discretion, determine is necessary or desirable in order to provide the Service to you in accordance with our specifications and requirements. We may perform these upgrades or changes remotely or on the Premises as we determine in our sole discretion. In certain cases, you may need additional specific equipment in order to receive certain Service features and/or functions. All of this equipment must also meet Comcast's specifications and requirements.

But then a bit further down, they tell you you can't hook up more computers than you signed up for or told them about (condradictory) Section G

Theft of Service: You will not connect the Service or any Comcast Equipment to more computers, either on or outside of the Premises, than are reflected in your account with us. You acknowledge that any unauthorized receipt of the Service constitutes theft of service, which is a violation of federal law and can result in both civil and criminal penalties. In addition, if the violations are willful and for commercial advantage or private financial gain, the penalties may be increased.

 

[RebateMonger]

Comcast's home network policies appear to be completely out of touch with reality.

I went over Comcast's web site pretty carefully. The only authorized home network is one installed using a Router installed by Comcast. That's $180. Or you can lease one for $5 per month. You aren't allowed to hook up more than five devices to that router.

Comcast appears to reserve the right to send you a bill for Home Networking Services if you do it yourself and they find out.

 

[xtknight]

Why wouldn't they? After all, when you use a NAT router you still only have one IP address and you don't suck any more bandwidth than if one computer was setup to be a server. I nver understood why they used to forbid it. 😕