The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued an "Enforcement Advisory" which prohibits the intentional blocking of Wi-Fi hot spots by an individual and/or businesses. Those who do not comply will be liable to enforcement action and may incur major fines.
The FCC made the announcement on Tuesday, Jan. 27, making the blocking of Wi-Fi hot spots intentionally illegal. The advisory comes after a dispute between Marriott International Inc. and its patrons. The hotel chain had blocked off the personal Wi-Fi hot spots of its patrons, forcing them to pay for the hotel's service instead.
"The Enforcement Bureau has seen a disturbing trend in which hotels and other commercial establishments block wireless consumers from using their own personal Wi-Fi hot spots on the commercial establishment's premises," noted the agency in a statement.
Earlier in December 2014, we reported that a gamut of top-notch hotels (including Marriott) had petitioned the FCC to give them permission to block the personal Wi-Fi hot spots of patrons under the guise that they were merely exercising "reasonable network management practices."
An FCC investigation in 2014 had found the hotel and convention center guilty of unlawful practices. Marriott Hotel Services was fined $600,000 as a result of such activity at its Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Tennessee.
It said an investigation at a resort hotel and convention center in 2014 had found Marriott International, Inc. had blocked consumer access to hot spots, and it warned that such activities could lead to heavy fines.
Marriott International filed a petition to the FCC on Nov. 19 to receive a go-ahead for blocking personal Wi-Fi hot spots of patrons as it was protecting them from "rogue wireless hot spots." However, several trade groups such as the CTIA, Microsoft and Google opposed the petition and asked FCC to reject the petition.
Earlier in January 2015, Marriott International agreed that it would not block the Wi-Fi hot spots of its patrons.
"Marriott International listens to its customers, and we will not block guests from using their personal Wi-Fi devices at any of our managed hotels. Marriott remains committed to protecting the security of Wi-Fi access in meeting and conference areas at our hotels," said Marriott in mid-January.
However, the hotel chain said that it would not withdraw its petition to the FCC.
"Consumers must get what they pay for. The Communications Act prohibits anyone from willfully or maliciously interfering with authorized radio communications, including Wi-Fi. Marriott's request seeking the FCC's blessing to block guests' use of non-Marriott networks is contrary to this basic principle," said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.
Even as the FCC continues to investigate the matter and prohibit these intentional malpractices, it advises consumers who suspect suspicious practices to file a complaint.
