Comcast Uses Oro Valley Customer Wireless Units To Expand Comcast'e Network

If you are a Comcast internet user and you use a wi-fi unit, then you will want to read this.

Comcast has opened up access to your wireless device to anyone who has a Comcast user name and password.  They have done so without your permission.  They have done so without offering to offering to pay you for this use.

If you are a Comcast Internet user, you should have received a letter announcing an increase in the number of Wi-Fi hotspots for you to use. You simply look for "Xfinity WiFi" as an option when looking for a Wi-Fi hotspot.  If it is there, you can use it by using your comcast user name and password.

That sounds like a great idea.  Now you can access the internet from so many more places.

That sounds great until you learn that the way they are doing it is to allow people to use your router (the thingy that lets the Internet be wireless in your house), your neighbor's router, and any other Comcast internet user's router to access the internet.

To be real clear: Comcast is letting people use your wireless device without your permission.

We'll say it again:  Comcast is using a device that you most likely rent from them, a device which you have been advised to password protect at the highest security levels to prevent people from using it, to allow people to use the device.

How do they do it?

Comcast remotely installs a network called 'Xfinity Wi-Fi' on your router. They don't ask you if it is alright to install it. They just install it.

So, they are using a device that you most likely rent from them without letting you know and without compensated you for its use.  After all, having this "feature" installed in your router is of absolutely no benefit to you.

Now anyone with a Comcast username and password can use your device.

That is not the only problem however. Apparently, this new "feature" causes your device to lose its connectivity to the Internet from time to time. The only way to fix it is to unplug the device, wait 15 seconds, and then replug it. It will then regain its ability to communicate with the Internet, until, later that day, or perhaps the next day, it loses connectivity yet again.  Then you have to... well, you know the routine.

Want to fix the problem?

1. Call Comcast. 
2. Ask to speak to someone in their Wi-Fi department. 
3. Tell that person to remove this "Xfinity Wi Fi" network from your device. You want to "opt out" of this feature. 
4. They will do so immediately. 

 Problem solved!
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