Kinda off topic and kinda on topic here. I know you guys and girls our mostly American I would assume since your talking about state laws here. I would bring up the laws in Canada about telecommunication theft in Chanda.
If any of you users our interested in this.
But even up north here in Canada it is illegal nation wide. We call it WIFI squatting. And you can spend up to 2 years in jail and be fined $5000 CAD per occurrence. It falls under 326 and 327 of criminal code of Canada.
Theft of telecommunication service
326. (1) Every one commits theft who fraudulently, maliciously, or without colour of right,
(a) abstracts, consumes or uses electricity or gas or causes it to be wasted or diverted; or
(b) uses any telecommunication facility or obtains any telecommunication service.
Definition of "telecommunication"
(2) In this section and section 327, "telecommunication" means any transmission, emission or reception of signs, signals, writing, images or sounds or intelligence of any nature by wire, radio, visual or other electromagnetic system.
And
Possession of device to obtain telecommunication facility or service
(2) In this section and section 327, "telecommunication" means any transmission, emission or reception of signs, signals, writing, images or sounds or intelligence of any nature by wire, radio, visual or other electromagnetic system.
R.S., c. C-34, s. 287; 1974-75-76, c. 93, s. 23.
Possession of device to obtain telecommunication facility or service
327. (1) Every one who, without lawful excuse, the proof of which lies on him, manufactures, possesses, sells or offers for sale or distributes any instrument or device or any component thereof, the design of which renders it primarily useful for obtaining the use of any telecommunication facility or service, under circumstances that give rise to a reasonable inference that the device has been used or is or was intended to be used to obtain the use of any telecommunication facility or service without payment of a lawful charge therefor, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.
Forfeiture
(2) Where a person is convicted of an offense under subsection (1) or paragraph 326(1)(b), any instrument or device in relation to which the offense was committed or the possession of which constituted the offense, on such conviction, in addition to any punishment that is imposed, may be ordered forfeited to Her Majesty, whereupon it may be disposed of as the Attorney General directs.
Limitation
(3) No order for forfeiture shall be made under subsection (2) in respect of telephone, telegraph or other communication facilities or equipment owned by a person engaged in providing telephone, telegraph or other communication service to the public or forming part of the telephone, telegraph or other communication service or system of such a person by means of which an offense under subsection (1) has been committed if such person was not a party to the offense.
Sorry if the copy and paste seems off. But there is proof even here it is wrong and is against the law.
Plus the way I see it is if you do not pay for it or have permission to use it. And you our still going threw and taking it with out permission you our morally wrong and should be caught and face the law. To me if it is legal which it is not and it still felt as stealing you should be punished in one way or another to me stealing is stealing.
I personally do not make a lot of income but I still pay for my internet every month. And I'm 20 and a student who works hard.
Plus now a days internet is cheap enough that you should be able to pay for it.
I have 15 Mb/s Connection with a feature called Power Boost by Shaw Cable Inc. Which brings up to about 25 Mb/s to its peak of 30 Mb/s and I only pay 19.95 a month Canadian. Which I do not think is bad since half the DSL providers which we have alot of wanted to only give me 7 Mb/s for around 35 to 45.
Before I moved in. My room mates where squatting a signal somewhere in the apartment building. And they said oh it is OK we do it all the time we never pay for internet ever we just steal wireless signals. And I was very offended. Because I have always payed or got permission to use the internet.
I got to the point where I got really upset with them and said No I'm not doing that. I will order my own connection.
I have strong morals and values and to me stealing is stealing no matter the way shape or form is stealing weather legal or illegal.
And ordered my self a connection. I think in my area a good price for the speed.
Plus I know too if you get caught stealing a telecommunication signal of any kind you can be black listed from a lot of the major company's in Canada. I have seen this with satellite television.
A guy I used to go to high school that happened to his dad. Because I asked him one day why he never watched Television. And he told me that is the reason why. His dad was black listed.
And here is some articles talking about this and I will even paste the link to the Criminal Code of Canada Theft Section. Again it under 326 and 327.
Is it illegal to wi-fi squatting in Ontario or Canada? - RedFlagDeals.com Forums Tech Bytes: Is stealing wi-fi really stealing? Criminal Code of Canada - Theft Sections