An interesting story has been developing in the use of WiFi hotpots in hotels.
The FCC fined Marriott hotels for blocking their customers from using their own WiFi, powered by phones and MiFi’s using 3G/4G data connections. The fine amounted to $600,000, and Marriott petitioned the commission, asserting that blocking customers was a way for them to better protect the security of the networking solutions they were offering.
The FCC responded with a public advisory yesterday reaffirming their previous stance:
Personal Wi-Fi networks, or “hot spots,” are an important way that consumers connect to the Internet. Willful or malicious interference with Wi-Fi hot spots is illegal. Wi-Fi blocking violates Section 333 of the Communications Act, as amended.1 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. As a result, the Bureau is protecting consumers by aggressively investigating and acting against such unlawful intentional interference.
Marriott’s stance here isn’t completely indefensible however. With the rise of portable WiFi solutions and ease of sharing data connections, those with malicious intent can copy Marriott’s network, or clone it, to trick other guests staying at the hotel. Once someone connects to a cloned network, their data is pretty much up for grabs. It potentially adds a chilling affect to using a hotel’s networking solutions, and devalues what was likely a substantially expensive investment in infrastructure.
While the FCC’s response here is certainly appreciated, it just further reinforces that data security is up to the consumer. Since Marriott wont be blocking customer WiFi, it might be time for travelers to examine their data plans and cellphone options…