FCC Serves Notice It Won't Tolerate Blocking of Wi-Fi Hot Spots

The FCC issued a strong warning to hotels and businesses that they will face fines if they block Wi-Fi hot spots. The FCC said in October that Marriott International and its subsidiary, Marriott Hotel Services, had agreed to pay $600,000 to resolve an FCC investigation into whether Marriott intentionally interfered with and disabled Wi-Fi networks at a Tennessee convention center (see 1410060053). “Wi-Fi blocking violates Section 333 of the Communications Act, as amended,” said the public notice Tuesday. “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.”