Marriott fined for wifi blocking at Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN
Oct 3, 2014, 1:18 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Toronto (YYZ)
Posts: 6,279
This is despicable behaviour! I have no confidence or trust in Marriott.
Oct 3, 2014, 1:34 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,377
Put the Tip Envelope out.
Oct 3, 2014, 1:35 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
I'm no techie but Wi-Fi access to the internet and cellular access to internet & phone networks are totally different, right? Different frequencies of the spectrum?
What Marriott and other convention like hotels are pissed at is people getting decent celluar internet signals and Wi-Fi-ing those out with a Verzion Mi-Fi device I have but rarely use. Many people can hookup to those for the cost of one cell connection. Mine has to be encrypted and password protected.
Substantial loss of revenue I suppose to Marriott.
Many years ago before Wi-Fi at a REN, I had my room's wired internet disabled completely on me one day. I had a wireless travel router that would take the hotels Ethernet signal and send it to my laptop, I left it on all day while at work. Apparently, they did not like this...
What Marriott and other convention like hotels are pissed at is people getting decent celluar internet signals and Wi-Fi-ing those out with a Verzion Mi-Fi device I have but rarely use. Many people can hookup to those for the cost of one cell connection. Mine has to be encrypted and password protected.
Substantial loss of revenue I suppose to Marriott.
Many years ago before Wi-Fi at a REN, I had my room's wired internet disabled completely on me one day. I had a wireless travel router that would take the hotels Ethernet signal and send it to my laptop, I left it on all day while at work. Apparently, they did not like this...
Oct 3, 2014, 1:52 pm
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Posts: 71,110
CNN has the following on its website. I hope it is from the hotel rather than Marriott because it only makes a bad situation worse...
Marriott issued the following statement Friday afternoon defending its actions:
"Marriott has a strong interest in ensuring that when our guests use our Wi-Fi service, they will be protected from rogue wireless hot spots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft," the statement said. "Like many other institutions and companies in a wide variety of industries, including hospitals and universities, the Gaylord Opryland protected its Wi-Fi network by using FCC-authorized equipment provided by well-known, reputable manufacturers.
"We believe that the Opryland's actions were lawful. We will continue to encourage the FCC to pursue a rulemaking in order to eliminate the ongoing confusion resulting from today's action and to assess the merits of its underlying policy."
Marriott issued the following statement Friday afternoon defending its actions:
"Marriott has a strong interest in ensuring that when our guests use our Wi-Fi service, they will be protected from rogue wireless hot spots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft," the statement said. "Like many other institutions and companies in a wide variety of industries, including hospitals and universities, the Gaylord Opryland protected its Wi-Fi network by using FCC-authorized equipment provided by well-known, reputable manufacturers.
"We believe that the Opryland's actions were lawful. We will continue to encourage the FCC to pursue a rulemaking in order to eliminate the ongoing confusion resulting from today's action and to assess the merits of its underlying policy."
Oct 3, 2014, 2:19 pm
#20
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Programs: Hyatt Global, Marriot Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 2,282
CNN has the following on its website. I hope it is from the hotel rather than Marriott because it only makes a bad situation worse...
Marriott issued the following statement Friday afternoon defending its actions:
"Marriott has a strong interest in ensuring that when our guests use our Wi-Fi service, they will be protected from rogue wireless hot spots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft," the statement said. "Like many other institutions and companies in a wide variety of industries, including hospitals and universities, the Gaylord Opryland protected its Wi-Fi network by using FCC-authorized equipment provided by well-known, reputable manufacturers.
"We believe that the Opryland's actions were lawful. We will continue to encourage the FCC to pursue a rulemaking in order to eliminate the ongoing confusion resulting from today's action and to assess the merits of its underlying policy."
Marriott issued the following statement Friday afternoon defending its actions:
"Marriott has a strong interest in ensuring that when our guests use our Wi-Fi service, they will be protected from rogue wireless hot spots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft," the statement said. "Like many other institutions and companies in a wide variety of industries, including hospitals and universities, the Gaylord Opryland protected its Wi-Fi network by using FCC-authorized equipment provided by well-known, reputable manufacturers.
"We believe that the Opryland's actions were lawful. We will continue to encourage the FCC to pursue a rulemaking in order to eliminate the ongoing confusion resulting from today's action and to assess the merits of its underlying policy."
Doesn't Marriott make enough money from consistently high room rates?
Oct 3, 2014, 2:36 pm
#21
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YYZ/DLC
Programs: AP, HHonours Diamond
Posts: 3,722
There's a lot of scary sounding text on FCC rules associated with things as innocuous as two-way radios. You're even supposed to have a license to operate them, although last time I checked the FCC didn't have too many special agents deployed on my favorite national park hikes 
That's precisely why FRS was approved so hikers and others could use a decent ranged two-way radio without the requirements for a license.
Oct 3, 2014, 2:40 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 304
Fines are a cost of doing business - they're passed on to innocent shareholders without consequences for the actual perpetrators. They are absolutely no disincentive to wrongdoing for a corporate entity. Until you penalize <i>individuals</i>, you'll get no changes in behavior.
Oct 3, 2014, 4:02 pm
#23
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 218
"protected from rogue wireless hot spots "? Surely they're kidding? Do they realize that they use PUBLIC airwaves for their wifi, and have no right to block anyone else?
I bet this is a company wide thing at other properties. Time for me to boycott Marriott. This is inexcusable.
I bet this is a company wide thing at other properties. Time for me to boycott Marriott. This is inexcusable.
Oct 3, 2014, 4:26 pm
#24
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Seattle
Programs: Delta DM, suffering Marriott Titanium
Posts: 94
"Marriott has a strong interest in ensuring that when our guests use our Wi-Fi service, they will be protected from rogue wireless hot spots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft,"
Right, so you're going to block the use of my own wifi hotspot to "protect" me? Bite me, Marriott -- it is boneheaded management decisions like this one which keeps me away from your hotels.
Right, so you're going to block the use of my own wifi hotspot to "protect" me? Bite me, Marriott -- it is boneheaded management decisions like this one which keeps me away from your hotels.
Oct 3, 2014, 4:45 pm
#25
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite; UA MM
Posts: 325
I used to really respect Marriott, but in the past few years they have seemed to engage in a number of increasingly questionable practices, this being the latest.
Management seems to be increasingly oblivious to customer service and loyalty, now seeming to go down the same customer-unfriendly road that many of the airlines have taken.
After years of nearly exclusive use of Marriott hotels I've branched out and commonly use other chains. My respect for Marriott has essentially disappeared.
Management seems to be increasingly oblivious to customer service and loyalty, now seeming to go down the same customer-unfriendly road that many of the airlines have taken.
After years of nearly exclusive use of Marriott hotels I've branched out and commonly use other chains. My respect for Marriott has essentially disappeared.
Oct 3, 2014, 5:12 pm
#26
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,689
Wow! Kind of busy today but sure would like to know more technical information that current article. Like exactly what equipment they were using.
On a similar front Harris Corp lied in their FCC application documents for what I call "Man in the middle" Stingray Device for law enforcement. This is another RF area.
On a similar front Harris Corp lied in their FCC application documents for what I call "Man in the middle" Stingray Device for law enforcement. This is another RF area.
Oct 3, 2014, 5:24 pm
#27
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
It is illegal to jam airwaves. Does WiFi count as airwaves? This sounds very serious.
Oct 3, 2014, 6:27 pm
#28
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,689
Yes it is illegal to jam airwaves. It is done all the time including for military or law enforcement operations. You all would go off the hook if you knew what gov and law enforcement agencies have in their arsenal. Most Wifi operates 2.4 and 5ghz approximately. It depends on what equipment they used.
Oct 3, 2014, 6:31 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
We also negotiated an over 90% discount on their WiFi from their original offer (we needed a separate network just for our 100+ users for the duration of the event) and they still no doubt did just fine on the margins.
The prices quoted by the Gaylord don't surprise me in the least. Blocking signals is a whole different matter.
Oct 3, 2014, 6:39 pm
#30
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: BA blue, LH Senator, KQ (FB) gold
Posts: 8,215
"Marriott has a strong interest in ensuring that when our guests use our Wi-Fi service, they will be protected from rogue wireless hot spots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft,"
Right, so you're going to block the use of my own wifi hotspot to "protect" me? Bite me, Marriott -- it is boneheaded management decisions like this one which keeps me away from your hotels.
Right, so you're going to block the use of my own wifi hotspot to "protect" me? Bite me, Marriott -- it is boneheaded management decisions like this one which keeps me away from your hotels.