The battle between hotels and hotspot-toting travelers isnt over just because Marriott settled a complaint that it blocked personal WiFi -- far from it. Google, Microsoft and a US carrier lobbying group (the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association) are opposing a hotel industry petition asking the FCC to let them block guests hotspots while theyre on the premises. Google and its allies contend that the hospitality business is trying not only to make customers pay for expensive WiFi, but also to effectively take control of unlicensed wireless frequencies. Everyone has equal rights to use those airwaves, the carriers say. Hoteliers are mostly repeating Marriotts arguments. They claim they need blocking to provide a secure and reliable connection for guests, and that theyre using FCC-approved gear designed to fight interference and intruders. The FCC hasnt yet weighed in on this latest battle, but the hotels may have a tough fight ahead of them given the reasoning that led to the recent settlement. Officials didnt believe that Marriotts security claims held water, and they argued that the company was trying to charge customers for internet access they already had. Unless the federal agency has a change of heart, theres a greater chance that youll get to use your own hotspot in the future.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 10:39:12 +0000
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