ISP helps members sell Net to neighbors

dahamsta

Was this reported already? Sorry if it was.

ISP helps members sell Net to neighbors

By John Borland
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
July 8, 2003, 2:31 PM PT

Speakeasy, an independent broadband service provider, is turning its customers into mini-ISPs by giving them the tools to sell wireless Net access to their neighbors.
Under the NetShare program, the Seattle-based Internet service provider is allowing people to resell access to their broadband connection to neighbors for anywhere from $20 to $100 a month. Speakeasy handles the billing, provides the downstream customers with their own e-mail boxes and other ISP basics, and takes half the amount charged on their bills.

"It's a great way to use Wi-Fi at the grassroots level to extend the reach of broadband," said Joe Laszlo, an analyst with Jupiter Research. "Speakeasy gets more customers for their service, without having to pay anyone else for costly DSL (digital subscriber lines)."

But the program may put Speakeasy at odds with some larger ISPs, which have tried to crack down on broadband subscribers who share their connections with other households over a wireless network.

[...]

SkepticOne

Yes it has been reported before.