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FC0-U71 Practice Question: A small business purchases a cable modem from the…
A small business purchases a cable modem from the ISP. They need to obtain a public IP address to access the internet. Which method does the cable modem typically use?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse the cable modem's method of obtaining an IP address with the router's NAT function, leading them to incorrectly select NAT as the answer when DHCP is the correct mechanism used by the modem to request a public IP from the ISP.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
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DHCP
Cable modems typically use DHCP to obtain a public IP address from the ISP. When the modem powers on, it sends a DHCPDISCOVER broadcast, and the ISP's DHCP server responds with an IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server information. This is the standard method for dynamically assigning public IP addresses to customer premises equipment (CPE) in cable networks.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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NAT
Why it's wrong here
NAT is used to translate private addresses to public, not to obtain an IP.
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DHCP
Why this is correct
Cable modems use DHCP to obtain an IP address from the ISP automatically.
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Static assignment
Why it's wrong here
Static assignment is not typical for cable modems; ISPs use DHCP.
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APIPA
Why it's wrong here
APIPA is used when DHCP fails, resulting in a private address (169.254.x.x).
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This FC0-U71 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the FC0-U71 exam.