An US regulator is trying to put an end to hoteliers blocking their guests’ personal Wi-Fi hot spots, even declaring the practice as ‘illegal’.
For those that don’t know – Wi-Fi blocking prevents travellers from using their own Wi-Fi on a commercial site. This leaves the visitor with no other alternative than to purchase Internet and Wi-Fi packages from the property.
According to the US Federal Communications Commission [FCC] Wi-Fi blocking has become a ‘disturbing trend’ in the hotel industry and other commercial establishments.
Regulators are coming down on hoteliers who block consumers’ personal Wi-Fi hot spots. Image: Milan Stojkovic/Shutterstock
“Personal Wi-Fi networks, or ‘hot spots’ are an important way that consumers connect to the Internet. Willful of malicious interference with Wi-Fi hot spots is illegal.”
FCC enforcement advisory
The group said it would ‘aggressively’ investigate the issue and act against ‘such unlawful international interference’.
The advisory comes after Marriott International was fined US$600,000 after it allegedly blocked consumer Wi-Fi at a convention held at one of its Nashville properties in 2013.
The Enforcement Bureau conducted the investigation against Marriott and said it found the company had deployed a Wi-Fi deauthentication protocol to deliberately block consumers from accessing the Internet using their own personal hot spots.
The hotelier is said to have admitted during the investigation that the customers it blocked did not pose a security threat.
According to the regulator, several other complaints have been received and investigations are underway.
“The Bureau… will take appropriate action against violators.”
FCC enforcement advisory