The idea of Cable Address Translation is one of the stupidest ideas I've come across in a while.
The premise is that cable modem subscribers who use NAT are "stealing cable" because:
- They're not paying the $4.95 fee for an additional IP Address. Not that they're actually using one...
- NAT devices create "secret domains" that aren't visible to cable ISPs, and thus the ISPs can't detect the NAT "theft." This assumes that the ISPs have some right to snoop your PC and/or using NAT is actually theft.
- Worse, if you hook up a 802.11b bridge to your home network, you can let others use your bandwidth for free. This is total BS. I'm buying bandwidth from the ISP, if I want to share it, I can. It's not my fault that they don't know how to provision bandwidth properly.
I can't even begin to express how idiotic all this is. The idea that providing bandwitdh is somehow the same as providing a cable TV subscription is ridiculous. And the idea of replacing NAT with something more friendly... well, all I have to say is, good luck.
At worst, using NAT is a violation of the terms-of-service agreement. If my cable company wants to cancel my account, fine. I'll just take my business elsewhere -- you don't hear this kind of crap from DSL providers.
I guess I take it personally when I'm called dishonest.
