Social Fairness - Wireless Provision

[louisp]

Hi,

I have just moved into my new home on a new estate. There will be 90 homes on the estate once the dust has settled and the builders evacuated!!

So, naturally, since I have been doing some reading on MyADSL etc. I am contemplating setting up a wireless network.

My main reasons for providing this:

1.) On our home owners meeting we discussed internet access and we agreed that we should consider getting a collective access for all.

2.) We discussed the possible security advantages of having everyone connected.

Once we have this wireless network up and running, we will be able to do many wonderfull things. Another avenue which I woud like to explore is to provide PVR type benefits over the network. For example I record all the Prison Breaks on a central server for everyone's viewing pleasure.

Now my 2 main problems are:

Legality!!!

This has been discussed numerous times, and as far as I can gather is that this is at most borderline.

Service Fee!!

I'm not an IT professional (I'm actually an Student Actuary), I do have a full time job and are making enough bucks to feed my family. I recently contacted a well known wireless group to ask for some assistance. Their reply made me feel guilty and forced me to rethink my strategy. They insisted that they feel strongly to provide a service to the community and not make profit! For this I have great respect, but my dilemma is that if I don't receive some renumeration for time and effort then it is absolutely not at all worth my while. I'd rather spend that time with my own family and my own hobbies.

If I do setup this network, then I will be on a 24 hour support line. I will be the goto guy if anything on anyone's PC goes wrong. If the power trips at my home while I'm at work... then ppl will be phoning me asking what is wrong.

So, as I really value the opinions of some of the ppl on this board (including and maybe even mostly those founders of the wireless groups). I would like to know your thoughts and opinions.

So, the floor is open!!

 

[Darth Garth]

For example I record all the Prison Breaks on a central server for everyone's viewing pleasure.

Streaming content to a public audience without a proper license from the content owners ... very illegal.

This does not fall under "fair use".

 

[andres101]

as long as you don't cross property borders, your ok!

 

[skydog]

louisp - This is an interesting question and topic for discussion.

The legality bit as u said has been discussed before. but you have to remember that law is law whether you like it or not. and if you break it you have to face the consequences if there are any.

There are a few legal issues. The wireless over boundaries… are there boundaries or not I’m not sure but would guess there are making it illegal but then there are loads of people doing. I’m not saying it is right or wrong I’m just saying that it is law and so illegal.

Sharing an internet connection … not sure on the legalities of that. I’m sure you could get around it by agreement with an ISP.

The sharing of copyrighted material eg. Streaming from DSTV or copying from PVR and so on is illegal… end of story.

The question of Community or Company well that is fairly simple. If you want a good service you pay for it.
If you go the community route then the people much accept that it is a best effort on the individuals that help out. If the person can’t help taking the support call or come out and fix a problem then tough that “client” must wait after all the person helping is not getting anything back except a warm fuzzy feeling ok and maybe a beer or three.

If tenants want good service maybe they can start a company to work on a not for profit basis eg. Everyone pays R200 per month and gets internet and a techie to help them out with a problem. All the money collected is used to pay the techie and the internet bill and all the other stuff.

Other option phone a computer company and tell them what you want and I’m sure they will help you out by charging a packet. But you will get the service.

 

[louisp]

The DSTV user agreement states that you are allowed to record their content. They specifically use the term "Time-shifting". All that I intend to do is store the recording for you.

Thus, you have to have (and have had) a valid DSTV subscription.

It would be exactly the same as you recording the show on VCR, walking over to my house. Place the tape in my safe custody. Then , when you want to view it, walk back over to my house and come and fetch it.

 

[Darth Garth]

All that I intend to do is store the recording for you.

That is your interpretation which I think is rather flawed.

I would suggest that before embarking on a course of action which might cause to you to loose your house that you contact DSTV or some expert legal opinion in these matters to clarify exactly what is allowed or not instead of asking the "experts" on myadsl.co.za whether this is okay or not.

Ignorance is not a good defense.

 

[Scooby_Doo]

anyway... wireless is not all that good for streaming movie clips unless u can get everyone to have atleast 10 megbit uninteruptable signal....


Unless u going to have them copy the movie clips down to their pc and work from there....

Ualso going to need atleast 2-4 1 meg lines for 90 homes...

Its not exactly a small undertaking.... now if u could have incoperated the network into the building plans and have cable connected to all the homes and then all connected to a "server" room that would have been a bit easier...