is sharing cable internet legal?

Question

Our neighbors just got their cable laid yesterday, and the guy told me that when they get connected we could dig up their cable(with the permission of our neighbors) and install a splitter. them just lay a second cable only to our house, and just pay the neighbor $30.00 because they pay $60.00, and we will have internet too.

*Will it make the internet slower?
*is it legal?
*will Comcast care about this???

Answer 1

Unfortunately the cable companies were able to foresee the income loss of "splitting" and got it written into their contracts that each household HAD to pay for cable use.

In the beginning they even made it necessary for an individual to pay DOUBLE if he had another TV somewhere in the house but this proved so unpopular that they chose to ignore an individual who chose to take his paid for cable and put on a 2 or even a 4- way splitter so as access cable to the bedrooms, rec room and den.

However, when COMCAST finds that another HOUSEHOLD is getting its signal from you, they will send you a bill for about $2000 and if you don't pay it, you will end up in court and LOSE !

Almost everyone thinks this is unfair but if YOU YOURSELF owned the TV cable company you would probably think differently.

The most famous case won by the cable company was against a multi-millionaire lawyer who built and owned a 200 unit apartment building. He lived in the penthouse on the top floor and spliced his cable TV to the other 199 apartments below. When they took him to court he thought he would win by declaring that he DID NOT charge any of his tenants for the spliced signal BUT just included it in the rent.

The judge said that "the charge for TV cable was HIDDEN in the rent charge and certainly could be considered an INCENTIVE to prospective rentees", so he was ordered to discontinue.

The owner was clever. He opted for each tenant to start paying monthly charges to the cable company and leave all the wiring in place. They agreed and the owner was not fined or punished.

In this case everybody won: The cable company got 199 brand new customers, the owner did not have to pay for expensive retro-fit of his building and the tenants got interrupted service, albeit with some extra expense.

Answer 2

That is strictly illegal, and called "theft of services". You can be fined severely, along with having to pay Comcast for this.

If they have wireless Internet, you can connect that way, but it will slow their service a bit if you are downloading large files.

Also, if you split their cable, you will not have Internet, as you need a Cable Modem, and would have to sign up with Comcast to use it.

Answer 3

Yes, the internet will be split, so it will be slower when multiple users are connected and using it.

Technically, it is legal because you have your neighbor's approval(IANAL). But, it is completely against Comcast's usage policy and there may be civil penalties they can impose.

If they find out, they most certainly will care. They do checks for this kind of thing from time to time.

Answer 4

1. I doubt Comcast would like it. If you both want their service, they could be selling to both of you.
2. It may indeed be illegal: Neither you nor your neighbor have the right to tinker with Comcast's equipment (the cable).

Answer 5

*is it legal?"

That is very illegal, you really should not do this. If you want to share, get a router and run a cable or a wireless connection.

*will Comcast care about this???"

You'd better believe it...they'll be suing your pants off.

Answer 6

it's illegal only if tehy catch you.. good luck (i recommend using a router to share the internet)

Answer 7

No that is not legal!!! You can go to jail for that!!!