[clue-tech] So-called "smart" hosts.

[William]

T. Joseph Carter wrote:
> Okay, now that I am using Comcast for connection purposes, I have
> discovered an old pet peeve of mine: Discrimination based on connection
> class.  I have a valid IP, I have valid DNS, and I have a valid mailserver
> at the IP with the appropriate DNS entry.
>
> At least two major sites refuse my email because I am not using Comcast's
> so-called smarthost.  Now, I'm paranoid about my email.  I want to know if
> my mail is delivered or not, first of all, and I don't necessarily trust
> Comcast nor any other ISP whose admins I do not know and trust at least by
> reputation to not lose my mail, in either direction.
>
> Any suggestions, besides seeking professional assistance regarding this
> paranoia of mine?  ;)
Unless the landscape has changed, I was told back in 1999 that (FCC?) 
law specifically prohibits cable-based ISPs from allowing their 
consumers to run servers (at home).  This isn't just a ban on web 
servers by cable providers; this is everything.  The widely infamous 
Port 80 ban is one consequence of this.  The explanation I received was 
something along the lines of "Our service isn't federally chartered to 
provide that level of Internet service to home consumers."

Given this, if you want to run any kind of at-home server, you're using 
the wrong ISP.  I use DSL instead of Cable for this very reason; no 
restrictions.