Marriott defends it Wi-Fi block

NEW YORK  Marriott International released a statement, last week, according to a report in Travel Pulse that attempts to clarify why the group is blocking personal use of Wi-Fi devices in its US-based hotels.
According to the Travel Pulse report, Marriott stresses that it will not block personal Wi-Fi hotspots in its hotel rooms or lobby spaces, but it does seek to block personal Wi-Fi devices in meeting and event spaces.
Marriott was fined USD600,000 by the Federal Communications Commission after Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Centre used technology to block personal Wi-Fi hotspots at its convention space in 2013, charging attendees anywhere from USD250 to USD1,000 for Wi-Fi service.
The major hotel company requested permission from the FCC in August 2014 to block personal Wi-Fi devices. In the recent statement, Marriott notes it is being pursued because of security concerns, Travel Pulse stated in its 7 January report.
inside no 5The statement reads:
“We understand there have been concerns regarding our position on the FCC petition filing, perhaps due to a lack of clarity about the issue. To set the record straight it has never been nor will it ever be Marriott’s policy to limit our guests’ ability to access the Internet by all available means, including through the use of personal Mi-Fi and/or Wi-Fi devices.”
“The question at hand is what measures a network operator can take to detect and contain rogue and imposter Wi-Fi hotspots used in our meeting and conference spaces that pose a security threat to meeting or conference attendees or cause interference to the conference guest wireless network.”
Marriott along with the American Hotel & Lodging Association on behalf of the entire hotel industry is seeking clarity from the FCC regarding what lawful measures a network operator can take to prevent such attacks from occurring.
Critics claim Marriott’s filing is less about security concerns and more about financial benefits Marriott would reap for forcing meeting and event attendees to pay for its Wi-Fi.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association and Hilton Worldwide have supported Marriott’s petition filing, while major companies such as Google and Microsoft are against it.

sourced:ttrweekly.com