----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeroen van Aart" <jeroen@mompl.net>
Comcast-supplied routers broadcast an encrypted, private wireless network for people at home, plus a non-encrypted network called XfinityWiFi that can be used by nearby subscribers. So if you're passing by a fellow user's home, you can lock onto their public Wi-Fi, log in using your Comcast username and password, and use that home's bandwidth.
Bright House/RoadRunner has been doing this in Tampa Bay for a couple years now -- but they only do it on business installs. It's how the Bright House Wifi and CableWifi SSID services are provisioned. Interestingly, they *do* do it with a separate cablemodem and a tee, and a separate high-power access point; it's not built into the cablemodem provisioned for the business customer proper. So space and power *would* be an issue for these users, though I don't know that anyone's complained. As another commenter noted, you do have to be a subscriber for their auth network to recognize you. I will give them their props: I only had to sign in *once*, last year; their auth controller has recognized my MAC address at every spot I've used since. Cheers, -- jra -- Jay R. Ashworth Baylink jra@baylink.com Designer The Things I Think RFC 2100 Ashworth & Associates http://www.bcp38.info 2000 Land Rover DII St Petersburg FL USA BCP38: Ask For It By Name! +1 727 647 1274