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"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," the agency said in a
statement on its website. http://www.fcc.gov/document/warning-wi-fi-blocking-prohibited
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.
It said it was "aggressively investigating and acting against
such unlawful intentional interference," and advised consumers
who suspected such activities to file a complaint with the FCC.
The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the story, said
Marriott had agreed to settle the case by paying a $600,000
civil penalty for the action at its Gaylord Opryland Hotel &
Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
The paper said the Marriott had petitioned the FCC to change its
policy.
"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," it quoted FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler as
saying.
The Journal said a Marriott spokesman had referred to a
statement it made earlier this month that it would not block
guests from using personal Wi-Fi devices.
(Writing by Eric Walsh; Editing by Sandra Maler)
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