[SATLUG] Deli owner wishes to set up own hotspot cheaply

[Bruce Dubbs]

Brad Knowles wrote:
> On 9/2/07, Enrique Sanchez Vela wrote:
> 
>>  why does it have to be more complicated than just
>>  powering up an access point without encryption and
>>  mac-filtering options?.
> 
> You could do that, but some jurisdictions are passing laws to make it a
> crime to have an open unsecured network, and at the very least they're
> going to require that you have lots of authentication and other logging
> information about who connected when and what sites they connected to.
> 
> 
> If you operate a wireless network, you're effectively becoming a
> telephone company.
> 
> Now, some jerk makes an abusive telephone call, commits a crime online,
> or looks at kiddie-porn, and you've got the FBI busting down your door
> and asking for all your CALEA-required records and access ports, etc....
> 
> Do you really want to be the one sent to jail because your wireless
> network got abused by someone else to perform a crime, and you can't
> prove that you weren't the one responsible for generating those packets?

Well it is really up to the prosecution to prove that you generated
those packets.  That is one of the big issues right now in the RIAA
complaints.  They might be able to get a DHCP generated IP address, but
they can't prove what computer attached to it.  They do use intimidation
of expensive lawsuits to get a 'settlement', but some are fighting back
and they have recently been ordered to make large payments to victims.
They are now the object of a RICO type class action lawsuit.

As far as CALEA goes, what is that?  A quick google says Commission on
Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.  Is there a law that says
records have to be kept if offering free wifi access?  Not that I know
of.  I'll bet there are a lot of public offerings of wifi that keep
none.  Examples would be libraries, restraunts, San Antonio College, etc.

  -- Bruce