FCC: Wi-Fi Is Essential & Blocking It Is Completely Prohibited

The FCC has released the final word on Marriott’s petition to block personal Wi-Fi in conference rooms.

The ongoing battle between Marriott and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is finally over — and the result is not in Marriott’s favor.

In October, Marriott was fined $600,000 for blocking guests’ personal Wi-Fi networks at a Nashville property. In response, Marriott petitioned the FCC to allow the blocking on the grounds that it safeguards against hackers and unauthorized network access.

The FCC has finally come forth with a final decision, in the form of an enforcement advisory issued Tuesday stating that blocking Wi-Fi is completely prohibited. “In the 21st Century, Wi-Fi represents an essential on-ramp to the internet,” read a portion of the advisory, which described personal Wi-Fi networks and hot spots as “important” to consumers.

The advisory went on to state:

In 2014, 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.

Moving forward, the FCC prohibits any hotel, convention center or commercial establishment — as well as the network operator providing the services — from intentionally blocking personal Wi-Fi, at the risk of substantial fines. The advisory goes on to note that it is illegal to use, market or sell jamming devices designed to block internet or cellular access.

As far as Marriott goes, the company eventually came clean and said that the customers it blocked in the first place did not actually pose a security threat. Earlier this month, Marriott announced that it would no longer block guests’ personal Wi-Fi devices at any of its hotels.

[Photo: FCC Facebook]