I recently had a client who was irate that he could not use his personal Wi-Fi hot spot in a Hotel. I told him that in the future he should speak to the hotel and tell them to give him free Wi-Fi or else because of the FTC’s stance on this issue which I share with you below:
Federal Communications Commission
PUBLIC NOTICE
January 27, 2015
WARNING: Wi-Fi Blocking is Prohibited
No hotel, convention center, or other commercial establishment or the network operator providing services at such establishments may intentionally block or disrupt personal Wi-Fi hot spots on such premises, including as part of an effort to force consumers to purchase access to the property owner’s Wi-Fi network. Such action is illegal and violations could lead to the assessment of substantial monetary penalties.
If you have reason to believe your personal Wi-Fi hot spot has been blocked, you can file a complaint with the FCC. To do so, you can visit www.fcc.gov/complaints or call 1-888-CALL-FCC. If you contact the FCC, you are encouraged to provide as much detail as possible regarding the potential Wi-Fi blocking, including the date, time, location, and possible source.