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Intermixing Cable TV and Internet Service?
AlphaSys asks: "I live in a small apartment community in the Southeast US. Broadband offerings are great in the area (both xDSL and cable). But the management company for the complex has their own 'cable' system in place by which they distribute programming from their satellite system to the residents. The rental agreement forbids anyone from getting cable service from any other provider (except DirecTV, etc.), which also negates our getting cable internet from anywhere, limiting us only to DSL. Here's where I'm going with this: is there any way the front office folk could get broadband service (T1 or fractional) which they could (via a router and multiplexer) then send down the wire with the regular TV signal like cable companies do? I work in networking but have no knowledge of how cable companies roll the two signals together or how you split it out at the customer end -- I just do Cat5/e/6 and fiber but I want to know if these guys can use their existing wire for this. I've searched Slashdot and googled my eyes out but I really can't find any pertinent information on how something like this is done. Does anyone have any information on how something like this is done?"
Maybe its just me, but I'd be willing to bet it would be cheaper to create a wifi network than this. Expecially considering the code of a wifi card versus a cable modem on each persons computer.
Is that lease enforceable?
You might want to call up the local cable company and ask them what your options are. Just be sure that they agree to keep your identity confidential if the shit hits the fan (and it very well may, if your apartment complex is violating a legally mandated monopoly) - it would be easy (albeit stupid) for your landlord to attempt to retaliate if your legitimate desire for broadband access ended up costing them big bucks in fines.
For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong. -- H L Mencken
One of the bright spots of Verizon is a relatively new division called Verizon Avenue. They specialize in providing voice and Internet service to apartment buildings. For a situation such as yours they would run a T-1 or larger to the premises and terminate it at a DLSAM. The DSLAM bridges across the incoming phone lines and multiplex the data onto the line into the customer premises. Best of all this group also provides services in areas where Verizon is not the incumbent local exchange carrier.
I understand that they provide a solid product at rates highly competitive with the cable modem
www.verizon.com/avenue