02 September 2015
Blocking Wi-Fi connections is “patently unlawful”
On August 18, 2015, the FCC announced a $750,000 civil penalty and formal Consent Decree with Smart City Holdings for blocking consumers’ personal Wi-Fi access at various convention centers, meeting centers and hotels around the United States. Smart City is an internet and telecommunications provider for such facilities, and had been blocking personal mobile “hotspots” being used by convention and meeting attendees.
Apparently referring to the $80 daily fee charged by Smart City for use of its Wi-Fi at the events, Travis LeBlanc, Chief of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau said, “It is unacceptable for any company to charge consumers exorbitant fees to access the Internet while at the same time blocking them from using their own personal Wi-Fi hotspots to access the Internet.”
The FCC Enforcement Chief went on to say, “All companies who seek to use technologies that block FCC-approved Wi-Fi connections are on notice that such practices are patently unlawful.”
The FCC is focused on preventing Wi-Fi blocking
The FCC action in the Smart City case really emphasizes how serious the FCC is about stopping the practice of hotels and related facilities from blocking consumer hotspots in order to sell their own more expensive access to the internet.
Starting with high-profile investigation and settlement with Marriott International last year, the FCC has taken the following steps: CONTINUE READING →