Multiple Cablemodems at the same address

Fred,

It seems like a big pain to go the Post Office route. Essentially, Comcast bills to the address, not the individual (as with most utilities).

There is another way around it, though.

Just have the bill modified so that Comcast gives you two public IPs. I am not sure on their policy, these days, but they used to charge $5 a month for an extra IP. Then, place a hub or switch in between the cable modem and the routers. Essentially, the existing router, and you router would be in parallel, and both would be connected to the hub or switch, along with the cable modem. The landlord would be able to run your Ethernet cable the same way, but one end would connect to the hub/switch in the other tenants room, and the other end would connect to your router. So, instead of paying $10/month of the bill, you would have to pay $15/mo, probably, and you get the best of both worlds.

I hope that is clear enough, and that it works out for you.

Regards, Dustin

Around here, all you would have to do in order to seperate the addresses would be to start using the new address. The post office around here (Canada) doesn't care if you add a unit number or similar to the base address -- they'll just drop it all in the same mailbox.

For example, you could use 3190-B or 2-3190 or 3190, unit #2 and the post office here would still deliver. But I recommend not using Box #2, 3190 as there are some businesses that won't deal with box numbers.

Static IPs are only available on commercial accounts.

But, I know multiple residential modems at the same address can be done. I've been doing it for years - exact same address, account number, etc. The system will certainly let them do it.

Dustin did not say anything about staic IPs. Any customer can get multiple IP addresses and a switch will separate the traffic for each. Dustin's solution will work.

Whoever you talked to gave you false information. Comcast can and does setup multiple accounts with their own modem at the same address. Depending on the market area there may be additional installation cost associated with running a dedicated line to your room. Billing is by name with address and phone number backups.Account service is by address with name and phone number backups. They may require the landlord to sign for permission to install the dedicated line to your room, again depending on market area and possibly other considerations.

Just add "appt 2" to your address.

And if you push enough, the paper pushers at your cable company will be able to put 2 accounts to the same address.

That's not entirely accurate. The Post Office has nothing to do with it.

Comcast uses the same GIS data based on property records. This is the same data that's used to determine tax lots, and other legal descriptions of property. Postal addresses are a reaction to that base data just the same as account numbers assigned by any other utility that provides service to the property.

When Comcast assigns multiple accounts to the same piece of property, it's called "multiple keys". This is what is done for apartment buildings. (Condos don't need multiple keys because each condo is legally a separate property even if you can't physically tell the difference between an apartment building and a building full of condos next door.)

The decision as to whether they will treat different units in a rooming house the same as a single piece of property (one key), or like an apartment building (multiple keys) is a decision that is made by the local market management. You will not likely get anywhere calling the customer support call center. You will likely get told "no" in a slightly different way by each different agent you speak to. They aren't even likely aware of any way to get you in contact with the true decision maker, either.

Your best bet is to get the owner of the property to go down to the mail Comcast office in your city. Not a payment office out in the suburbs. The main office where the local management people have their offices. Numerous people within the company will need to sign-off on creating multiple keys for a single property.

Your local policy may be to not create multiple keys for a property unless it is officially recorded in the county property records as being a multiple unit residence, and the official designation of your rooming house may not meet those requirements. If that's the case, to accomplish your goal, the owner of the rooming house may need to apply to change the classification of the property, which may have an affect on the tax status and zoning status of the property.

In other words, you may be facing a big job ahead of you, and you will need to coordinate a lot of issues for the landlord. (None of this can happen without the property owner wanting it to happen, and supporting every move.) And the Post Office has nothing to do with any of it. (However, after all this is done, they may insist on delivering mail to multiple addresses. They will react to the changes. The changes are not a reaction to them.)

However, it is also possible that your local Comcast office won't have a problem with multiple keys even if it's the same residence. If that's the case, all you have to do is find the right person in the local office to approve the multiple keys. (You'll still need your landlord's support.) You will not find the path to the right person that can make this decision by calling the call center. You will still need to go down to the main local office, and hunt down the right person in person.

Either way, the Post Office has nothing to do with it. And the call center is not the point of contact.