Marriott Fined 600K by FCC for Blocking Guests Wi-Fi

Marriott fined $600,000 by FCC for blocking guests' Wi-Fi

Do you think that hotels are deliberately blocking your personal Wi-Fi networks so you'll buy theirs?

It turns out the federal government is concerned about it, too.

"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."

Source: FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Travis LeBlanc

Marriott has agreed to pay a $600,000 fine after the Federal Communications Commission found the company blocked consumer Wi-Fi networks last year during an event at a hotel and conference center in Nashville.

Under the FCC consent decree, Marriott must not block guests' Wi-Fi at all of the properties it owns and manages. The company must also file compliance plans with the FCC every three months for three years.

It's the first time the FCC has investigated a hotel property for blocking its guests' Wi-Fi, according to a senior FCC official with knowledge of the investigation.

Source: Marriott fined $600,000 by FCC for blocking guests' Wi-Fi | by Katia Hetter, CNN

The unlawful blocking isn't "jamming" in the traditional sense, where someone uses a jammer device to block wireless signals. Instead, Marriott employees were using the hotel's own Wi-Fi system to block other people's hot spots, the FCC official said.

Source: Marriott fined $600,000 by FCC for blocking guests' Wi-Fi | by Katia Hetter, CNN

"It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hot spots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel's own Wi-Fi network. This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether."

Source: FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Travis LeBlanc

Marriott clarifies its position …

“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.”

Source: Jeff Flaherty, a Marriott spokesman via ARS Technica.

Marriott clarifies its position …

"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."

Source: Source: Jeff Flaherty, a Marriott spokesman via ARS Technica.

Marriott clarifies its position …

"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."

Source: Source: Jeff Flaherty, a Marriott spokesman via ARS Technica.

Marriott clarifies its position …

In additional comments to the Associated Press, Marriott clarified:

• They were not using illegal black-market jammers to block guests’ Wi-Fi signals; in fact, the equipment was FCC-authorized

• The equipment was used at the conference facility, not in guest rooms

• At the four Gaylord hotels in the U.S., Marriott today monitors for hotspots causing interference but does not automatically block such connections

• Only a handful of Marriott's 4000 other hotels worldwide currently screen for hotspot interference.

Media Reactions & Expert Perspectives

FCC to Marriott: No, you can’t force your customers onto terrible hotel WiFi

By Brian Fung Via Washington Post

FCC fines Marriott $600,000 for jamming hotel Wi-Fi by Glenn Fleishman via Boing Boing

FCC: Marriott used Wi-Fi jammers to block customers’ personal hotspots | by Kif Leswing via Gigaom

Marriott fined $600k for deliberate JAMMING of guests' Wi-Fi hotspots: Posh hostel biz borked guests' networks to sell pricey offering |by Shaun Nichols, 3 Oct 2014 via The Register UK

The FCC's Unfair Marriott Puppy Smack: The FCC can't selectively punish companies that use features in equipment the FCC authorizes. | by Samara Lynn via PCmag.com

Two Minutes of Hate: Marriot deauthing competing WiFi

by Robert Graham via Errata Security

@AirTight

Cut through the confusion, read Hemant Chaskar’s post:

Understanding FCC decision regarding Wi-Fi containment at

Marriott.