Beware new Comcast Terms and Conditions

[dickthegrouch]

Just in case you haven't read it yet:

"Customer Equipment consists of software or services that you elect to use in connection with the services or Comcast Equipment. You agree to allow us and our agents the rights to insert cable cards and other hardware in the Customer Equipment, send software and/or "downloads" to the customer equipment and install, configure, maintain, inspect and upgrade the Customer Equipment...YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR COMPUTER MAY NEED TO BE OPENED, UPDATED, ACCESSED OR USED BY US OR OUR AGENTS"(emphasis Comcast's)"...You agree...all Comcast Equipment belongs to us....Comcast Equipment includes includes all software or "downloads" to Customer Equipment...We may remove the Comcast Equipment at our discretion"

Oh and BTW Comcast is not liable for any damage done while availing themselves of any of these rights.

[MADem]

1. That sounds to me like configuring the router for morons who can't do it themselves.

I dunno--I don't have cable internet.

[dickthegrouch]

3. If that's all they wanted, they should say so

It's written much more broadly, however.
The one thing they haven't given themselves is the right to copy my data or upload it - probably a mistake on their part :(

[MADem]

5. The "customer equipment" isn't your computer, though. The customer equipment is

the box on your tee vee, the TIVOish thing, if you have one of those, and the router/modem for your cable. That's why, when they talk about your computer, they talk about it separately from the "customer equipment."

Some people have no idea how to persuade their computer to talk to the broadband signal, either, and need "the man" (or woman) to help them with that--in order to do that, they have to configure the customer's computers.

I won't get Comcast broadband (I'm getting ready to dump them in a few months, after my "special deal bargain" that I requested from them runs out--unless they renew it to keep me) because my neighbors say it slows to a crawl during peak hours.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

6. I have Comcast broadband,

and I may be asking the gods to screw with me by posting this, but I've never encountered any slow periods. I wouldn't know what "peak hours" are because the stuff is really fast - for me, anyway - all the time.

That language is about installing updates, as in the McAfee Virus Protection and Firewall, and stuff like that, that's all. No need to panic. You're right .......................

[Duer 157099]

2. Hah, that's funny. They'll touch my computer when?

Never. Ever. That's when.

I'll sign it if I have to. They can try whatever they want, that's why I use a firewall.

[drm604]

4. I'm glad I have DSL. n/t