Internet Law

[tompangborn]

I have VOIP service through T-mobile which requires a Linksys Router purchased through T-mobile. I own the router which besides providing VOIP service for our home phone also provides all the general services of a modern wireless home router, firewall, splitting our Internet service, and port forwarding.

Recently T-mobile pushed a firmware update to 'my' router that caused a number of issues with our Internet and phone services. T-mobile admits the firmware push cause its customers problems. My question is it even legal for T-mobile to push these firmware updates? Routers are the first line of security to a network and, since T-mobile doesn't own this hardware, I question their right to update the router without my permission. I've asked to opt out of these updates and been refused. So I asked that the contract for my home phone service be ended, also refused.

Do I have any options besides going ahead and paying for a service that I'm really considering not using? And can T-mobile really update a key component of my home network without my permission?

Thanks in Advance
Tom
Missouri

[justalayman]

what does your contract, including any applicable terms of service say to the issue?