OT- Comcast Subscriber Agreement

[Greg Kettmann]

Sorry if this is somewhat off topic.  Perhaps it's not since it involves 
Linux and NAT.   I have many friends using "Broadband Routers" that I've 
set up.  As I imagine we all know these allow one machine to act like a 
proxy for a group of other machines.  (Yes, I know it's technically not 
a proxy and that it uses NAT.  I'm speaking in concepts.  Hey, for that 
matter it's not really a Router.)  

With the Comcast acquisition of ATTBI there is a "Transition Wizard". 
 They say it must be applied by the end of the month.  Using that 
requires signing a new Subscriber Agreement.  Section 6, subsection g of 
this states:
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.

Now, technically no one is connecting any additional machines to the 
"Service" just to the machine which is making Internet requests on their 
behalf.  Also, and I know the laws are really flakey in this area, but 
wouldn't intercepting, decoding and reading my traffic be a breach of my 
privacy as well as a violation of the reverse engineering laws?

One of my friends is a bit concerned so I wrote a note to Comcast, 
requesting a clarification of the passage, particularly as it applies to 
"Broadband Routers".  I included questions on privacy and packet 
disassembly and tried to keep it very polite.  I suspect that this is 
pretty much business as usual but wanted to hear about the issues from 
the experts.  

 I appreciate any feedback or suggestions.  Thanks, GGK
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