FCC cracks down on Marriott International

FCC cracks down on Marriott International

The BBC reports the hotel group Marriott International is to stop jamming WiFi units

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched an investigation into the hotel's practices in March 2013 after being contacted by a hotel guest who said they had been unable to connect to the net via a mi-fi device at Marriott's Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

“Consumers who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personal Internet connection will be blocked by their hotel or conference center,” said FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Travis LeBlanc. “It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel’s own Wi-Fi network.

Read the BBC story at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30827706

Marriot pay $600,000 to resolve WiFi-blocking investigation
http://www.fcc.gov/document/marriott-pay-600k-resolve-wifi-blocking-investigation









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Oh sure real crackdown? $600K They were hosting a large convention and charging guests a $1K to use the hotels WiFi? This fine is like a mosquito bite rather than a real fine. I say double the fine and then the managment will notice.

 

The way to punish these people is like in any other area-IN THERE POCKETBOOK !! Tnx fer the info.By this info alone,I would never ever book a room with this chain any more! Today this should be a given,any more than charging for bath soap or shampoo.This is an extreme example but only mentioned to make a point. Empty rooms make them sit up es take notice! Today within a few blocks,they're not the only game in town as a general rule. As of this point onward,they've just LOST ME!! Respectfully, Gregory L. Mitchell-W2MYA West Caldwell,N.J.

 

They should check out Disney also. I couldnt believe it was so dead there? I think they are jamming also ?
Dave N8DC

 

This is a big topic over on Flyertalk.com. The real crime on this is that the legal department of Marriott doubled-down on the nonsense and claimed that the wifi blocking was done to protect the computers of hotel and conventions guests.

LOL.

 

Doesn't surprize me at all...
The cyber wars continue....

 

Okay so Marriott is at fault how about a fine that they must provide free hotel rooms (within a 50 mile radius of Dayton) for the next 10 years to all attending Hamvention plus 10M dollar fine this will stop them and make other Hotels/Motels think twice.

 

Amen to a HUGE fine and free rooms for all attending Dayton!! 600K is nothing; they're laughing at that one.
Vy 73...Joe

 

600 million would be better. That would at least make a noticeable dent in their profits.

 

Although Marriott has lost the first round, the Hospitality and Lodging Association (and others) have filed a petition with the FCC basically asking for permission to jam Wi-Fi under certain circumstances. Read the PETITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, FOR RULEMAKING.

I believe the formal period for filing comments with the FCC has already ended; I don't know whether the Reply Comments period has expired (where you file comments about earlier filed comments. However, FCC staff have previously told me that at their discretion they will consider late-filed comments.

You can view comments and file your own at the RM-11737 ECFS page. (Many hams have filed comments.)

 

Put away the cell phones Ipads and enjoy the hotel.
This is sort like texting and driving look out the window and enjoy the scenery.

 

Sit tight folks and let see if they cave to the $$$$$. I read that a Correctional Institute not to long ago asked if they could block cell phone signals around the facility and they came back and denied the request......we will see if the precedent was set with that or if they will cave!

 

For a fact Dave, Walt Disney World is NOT jamming. I work there. Or, maybe WDW just blocks guests.

 

IF the hotel industy would hire IT code heads that knew what they were doing, there would be no need to think they needed jammers.

 

Really? 1K tuse Wi Fi....I doubt it