These are called VRADs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRAD http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRAD. The demarc for your DSL is the modem. If you provide your own modem

These are called VRADs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRAD http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRAD. The demarc for your DSL is the modem. If you provide your own modem you still are subject to AT&T's rules. You cannot legally connect to sensitive national infrastructure (like the phone network) without the provider being responsible for your access. As far as connecting equipment, that significantly predates divestiture. Most people point to Carterfone as the salient decision that changed this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carterfone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carterfone In reality, there was actually a prior decision which I can't seem to find right now where AT&T refused to allow people to put plastic privacy guards over the mouth piece on the grounds that it would damage the phone network. Ludicrous, but sensible from an economic standpoint. EDIT: Found it, 1956 Hush-a-phone: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hush-A-Phone_v._United_States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hush-A-Phone_v._United_States In short, Telecom is complicated, the demarc is important and you don't own any part of the network from the modem on up. Source: I am a telecom junkie and I work at 2600hz, the open source telecom company.