FIOS Users -- You are Warned!

[JesseK]

This just in on Slashdot, beware! You are no longer allowed to post off-topic comments on these message boards (Section 2). There's also verbiage prohibiting name-calling and down-right dirty public attacks against each other (aka flames).

Specific Examples of AUP Violations. The following are examples of conduct which may lead to termination of your Service. Without limiting the general policy in Section 1, it is a violation of the Agreement and this AUP to: ... (e) post off-topic information on message boards, chat rooms or social networking sites; ...

Finally, a way to keep us on the topic of FIRST robotics. Oh snap!

Obviously some lawyer completely blew off the first amendment thus there's no basis for them to ever shut your connection off due to item (e)...but it's still comical nonetheless.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Guys, I want a puppy.

(I'm not on FIOS so I can post an off topic message. This is hilarious though. Thanks, this chuckle made my day.)

[rsisk]

Come and get me copper!

(Hmmm, that was actually a double entendre since I use DSL over a copper line... nice ;>)

[ATannahill]

Where's the orange juice?

I see this going downhill, but it did remind me of some thing they are doing in Europe where the government will cut off your internet if you are suspected of piracy.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by rsisk

Come and get me copper!

They'll get me copper but they'll never get me Lucky Charms!

[Andrew Schreiber]

In an effort to combat the unintended side effect of my joke I will try to spark a little intelligent discussion.

(b) transmit uninvited communications, data or information, or engage in other similar activities, including without limitation, "spamming", "flaming" or denial of service attacks;
(f) engage in conduct that is defamatory, fraudulent, obscene or deceptive;
(h) engage in any conduct harmful to the Verizon network, the Internet generally or other Internet users;
(j) use the Service to violate any rule, policy or guideline of Verizon;
(l) use the Service in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria or any other E:1 Country as designated by the Department of Commerce.

Are some other interesting snippets.

b) I wonder what would happen if I emailed Verizon saying that one of their customers was sending me unwanted emails (not spam, just I don't want to talk to them)

f) Does this mean no politicians can have FIOS? What about bloggers? Comedians?

h) So, no YouTube eh?

j) Does this include internal guidelines? It doesn't really say.

l) Wait, I can't get FIOS where I live but they have lines in Cuba? And more importantly, what if I am in Iran on business and remote into a machine connected to FIOS, does this violate their rules?

Verizon may, but is not required to, monitor your compliance, or the compliance of other subscribers, with the terms, conditions or policies of this Agreement and AUP

I'm not joking around about this, it scares the CRAP out of me. I don't even do anything illegal but I don't like being monitored (or them having the right to monitor me)

In all honesty though, free speech doesn't come into play. Verizon's lines are Verizon's lines, if they want to tell me that I can't use them to transmit a picture of dinosaur bones because Verizon is anti evolution that is their right.

[rsisk]

Do they really have FIOS in North Korea?



Just be glad it is Verizon doing the monitoring and not the government. At least with Verizon you can choose to go to another provider.

[MrForbes]

I had to look up the word FiOS to see what it means. Do I win?

[Jared Russell]

Originally Posted by rsisk

Just be glad it is Verizon doing the monitoring and not the government. At least with Verizon you can choose to go to another provider.

Where I live, the choices for high speed internet are Comcast and Verizon, and Comcast's terms of service are not much less Draconian than Verizon's...

[Chris is me]

This is why I don't buy things from Verizon, and why you should always read every EULA and legal document before you click the "I agree" button.

[artdutra04]

This is why we need Net Neutrality.

[rsisk]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

This is why we need Net Neutrality.

Really? Why is that?

The AUP is limiting what Verizon users can push out via their network, not limiting what they user can receive. I thought Net Neutrality was all about limiting the bandwith of certain content.

[bobwrit]

Originally Posted by rsisk

Really? Why is that?

The AUP is limiting what Verizon users can push out via their network, not limiting what they user can receive. I thought Net Neutrality was all about limiting the bandwith of certain content.

In section 2, part I, it says

(i) generate excessive amounts of email or other Internet traffic;

In other words, they are limiting the amount of bandwidth you can use for browsing(As well as VOIP and gaming traffic) and email purposes(Which just about accounts for all of the traffic on the internet right now).

Edit:

Also in section 3 it says that Verizon is free to limit the amount of bandwidth you are allowed to use for Usenet.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

I will try to spark a little intelligent discussion.

Quiet you. We don't do that kind of stuff here.

[Tom Line]

Originally Posted by rtfgnow

Where's the orange juice?

I see this going downhill, but it did remind me of some thing they are doing in Europe where the government will cut off your internet if you are suspected of piracy.

I believe you are talking about the new 3 strikes policy that they are putting in place. So, if you are caught and logged downloading copyrighted content 3 times (movies, games, etc) that you haven't paid for, you have your access cut off.

Seems pretty fair to me. How many chances do you get to rob a store before they arrest you?