[benbargagliotti]

I've been hearing about these free wireless networks in big cities, and there is a suppliment to wired magazine that talks about wi-fi. I've used an 802.11b network at school and it seems quite usable among a lot of users. The obvious idea that i've never heard discussed is to buy a new airport extreme station, get dsl, and sell broadband internet to neighbors willing to pay for it in an apartment complex. maybe $10 per user, but faster than netzero or juno. is this legal? maybe too difficult? thanks

ben bargagliotti

[macroy]

Yea, they're called Wireless ISPs or "WISPs". You usually find them where DSL/Cable are not as available. A few friends and I have been toying with the idea of selling wireless service to new communities (e.g. have APs build around the neighborhood and it would basically be included in the monthly HOA/condo fee). However, as technical we may be, none of us know are marketing/sales folks.... Also, the start-up cost is not exactly low (bandwidth, security, usage auditing etc...), and there is the customer service aspect of it that needs to be handled. You're going to need a staff of folks to help your customers setup and work through problems....

What you described seems more on a VERY small scale...like providing it for your friends... however, I can't see anyone MAKING money off your friends - Sharing the cost maybe...

Still a great idea though.

Originally posted by benbargagliotti:
I've been hearing about these free wireless networks in big cities, and there is a suppliment to wired magazine that talks about wi-fi. I've used an 802.11b network at school and it seems quite usable among a lot of users. The obvious idea that i've never heard discussed is to buy a new airport extreme station, get dsl, and sell broadband internet to neighbors willing to pay for it in an apartment complex. maybe $10 per user, but faster than netzero or juno. is this legal? maybe too difficult? thanks

ben bargagliotti

[ghporter]

It's a great idea but...

First, your broadband ISP probably has a nice little clause in your user agreement that forbids reselling the access you get. Perfectly legal, yet not very obvious when you sign up, this sort of clause is standard in ISP agreements.

There's also the issue of the FCC. If you can legally resell your access, you become what's called a "common carrier," and have to compete on the same footing as all the other ISPs. That means you have to be very business savvy, you have to register with the FCC, publish your fees, operate under their microscope, etc.

Sorry to bust that bubble, but this is one reason why there aren't a bunch of small, for-pay ISPs selling wireless service. It's just too much trouble to be worth the effort.