Comcast is looking to bring the world one step closer to a universal and open wireless network, according to a report posted Monday by ZDnet.com. With the release of a new Wireless Gateway and router, Comcast is now encouraging its Xfinity Internet customers to establish internet hotspots for shared Wi-Fi access.

The concept is simple: the new gateway broadcasts two separate Wi-Fi signals, one the standard-issue, secure, and private home internet system most users are used to, the other a neighborhood “xfinitiwifi” signal that can be accessed by other Comcast users on the fly. The community hotspot can be broadcast at no additional cost to the wireless customer, and other Comcast users can then access the new network for free by simply entering a username or password.

Even non-subscribers will be able to benefit from the new shared hotspots, though Comcast says outside users will only be able to access the networks for two separate hour-long periods each month.

Sounds great, doesn’t it? For those emergencies where cell service is out and you need to check email on your mobile device, or when you need to pull over, turn on your laptop, and quickly send a mass attachment, Comcast’s new strategy could be a welcome friend. If the model works, we could see more providers offering similar services, and more customers looking to “pay it forward” when it comes to free internet access.

The big question, of course is security. The reason privatized wireless networks have become the norm in so many situations is the extra security they offer, both in keeping viruses and Malware  isolated and in keeping hackers and other unwelcome cyber threats out. But will letting a bunch of strangers share your network put you at risk for intrusion?

According to Comcast, not at all. The company assures customers that the two wireless signals produced by their new gateway are “completely separate,” and that Comcast users will be at no greater risk for a network hack with this shared system than they would be if they simply maintained a single private signal for themselves.

Comcast’s plan is similar to an idea the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has been circulating for months. The foundation joined in an “Open Wireless Movement” last October, suggesting that Wi-Fi networks accessible to all may be the next big thing to happen to the internet.

“We envision a world where sharing one’s Internet connection is the norm,” said Adi Kamdar, one of EFF’s activists, last fall. “A world of open wireless would encourage privacy, promote innovation, and benefit the public good, giving us network access whenever we need it. And everyone–users, businesses, developers, and Internet service providers–can get involved to help make it happen.”