Tripter Blog

Tripter was about to join FON and share our wireless broadband with strangers for free - not (necessarily) because we’re crazy anti-establishment types, but mainly because we’d like to be able to use other people’s connections when we’re on the move. Sharing is usually good. Like trade, it literally creates wealth.

Anyway, I was about to sign us up with FON, but at the last second I had to wonder if our ISP allowed it. Searching on the subject, I discovered a thoughtful post from Scott Bronson over at u32.net, about how FON doesn’t help customers determine if their ISP’s terms of service allows FON-style sharing. He makes the point that although it’s pathetic that nearly all ISPs in the US don’t allow such sharing, FON is also doing its customers a disservice by not clearly informing them that they may be violating their ISP contract.
I had to agree. Perhaps if FON was more upfront, they would help consumers realize that sharing is a factor they may want to consider when choosing an ISP. After all, if you share for free, you also get to roam on other FON users networks, and that’s quite valuable. Of course, the wireless carriers greatly prefer that we pay $20-50/month for wireless data services.
If consumers were more empowered with a little more knowledge that, in turn, might encourage a few ISP’s to distinguish themselves by allowing FON - as is occurring in Europe. Unlike in Europe, I don’t see much movement to free up (and reduce the cost of) our telecom. Having just moved back to USA from India & France, I’m shocked at the price of telecom here - and it’s no accident. I suspect (and hope) that we’ll eventually learn of collusion between the wireless telecoms and ISPs (and perhaps the FCC as well?). How else can you explain the lack of innovative service offerings as compared with Europe and Asia?