Should hotels be allowed to jam personal hotspots?

[Cooky]

Marriott was fined $600K by FCC for interfering w/ guests' personal hotspots:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/03/travel/marriott-fcc-wi-fi-fine/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

I bet they just used the containment feature on Cisco's WLC's by sending de-auth packets.

What's everyone's take on this?

If I ran Marriott's IT, I'd want the RF space to be as clean as possible.
By running a personal hotspot via wifi, you're making the air more congested.

On the other hand, if I were a guest, I'd want to use my own hotspot, if I already paid my carrier for that service.
Perhaps Marriott can post a sign asking its guests to tether through USB cable instead?
I've always used USB for my ATT hotspot anyway...cleaner, and more secure.

 

[imagoon]

If I ran Marriott's IT, I'd want the RF space to be as clean as possible.

RF space doesn't belong to Marriott. Hence the fine.

 

[KingFatty]

Running a blender, microwave, etc. makes the RF space more congested too. Let's ban them.

 

[Rebel44]

Only $600K

If it was up to me, i would fine them at least $50M - that would make an example of them and serve as a warning to others that such BS wont be tolerated.

 

[JoeMcJoe]

What's everyone's take on this?

If I ran Marriott's IT, I'd want the RF space to be as clean as possible.
By running a personal hotspot via wifi, you're making the air more congested.

On the other hand, if I were a guest, I'd want to use my own hotspot, if I already paid my carrier for that service.
Perhaps Marriott can post a sign asking its guests to tether through USB cable instead?
I've always used USB for my ATT hotspot anyway...cleaner, and more secure.

If they want their own spectrum, then buy it. They don't own the spectrum to be able jam it.

Simple.

 

[Kremlar]

What's the difference between this and movie theaters blocking outside food?

 

[her209]

What's the difference between this and movie theaters blocking outside food?

What's the difference between a hotel and a movie theater?

 

[Engineer]

This is interesting. I've been in factories and universities that have blocked stuff like this siting security reasons. I have a hard time saying no when I feel that they should be able to block wifi signals inside of their building. Now if we're talking about the cellular signal, then no. Wifi from other than their provided sources, then yes, they should be able to block it.

Edit: But I guess if our wise(ass) FCC says it's not OK, then I guess it can't be blocked. Just make sure to keep the power levels down or the FCC will kick your ass (just like they are doing to the router/AP market - just ask Asus).

 

[JoeMcJoe]

What's the difference between this and movie theaters blocking outside food?

The law.

 

[JoeMcJoe]

This is interesting. I've been in factories and universities that have blocked stuff like this siting security reasons. I have a hard time saying no when I feel that they should be able to block wifi signals inside of their building. Now if we're talking about the cellular signal, then no. Wifi from other than their provided sources, then yes, they should be able to block it.

Edit: But I guess if our wise(ass) FCC says it's not OK, then I guess it can't be blocked. Just make sure to keep the power levels down or the FCC will kick your ass (just like they are doing to the router/AP market - just ask Asus).

So do you think is ok if your neighbours block all your wifi in your home for you?

 

[alkemyst]

What's the difference between this and movie theaters blocking outside food?

RF/FCC is a very serious and legally controlled playground; that's why.

 

[s44]

If it was up to me, i would fine them at least $50M - that would make an example of them and serve as a warning to others that such BS wont be tolerated.

Yup.

 

[Engineer]

So do you think is ok if your neighbours block all your wifi in your home for you?

I never said any such thing. I think it's OK if my neighbors block my wifi in THEIR home, not mine. I clearly said in 'their building'. If my neighbor can block mine inside his house without effecting mine, more power to him.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Only $600K

If it was up to me, i would fine them at least $50M - that would make an example of them and serve as a warning to others that such BS wont be tolerated.

They do it with pirates, funny how they never do it with megacorporations.

What I wonder is why someone would want to use their data to make a hot spot in the first place. That is going to be more expensive than paying for hotel wifi. Though the fact that hotels charge for wifi IS pretty retarded. You're already paying 150-200 bucks to stay in a room per night and they can't even provide free wifi? Hotels are gold mines, there's barely any cost of operation outside of standard stuff that every other business has to pay for too, like electricity, heating, cleaning staff, etc.

 

[Engineer]

They do it with pirates, funny how they never do it with megacorporations.

What I wonder is why someone would want to use their data to make a hot spot in the first place. That is going to be more expensive than paying for hotel wifi. Though the fact that hotels charge for wifi IS pretty retarded. You're already paying 150-200 bucks to stay in a room per night and they can't even provide free wifi? Hotels are gold mines, there's barely any cost of operation outside of standard stuff that every other business has to pay for too, like electricity, heating, cleaning staff, etc.

Because of this (from the story in the OP):

At the same time, Marriott was charging exhibitors and others as much as $1,000 per device to access the hotel's wireless network, the FCC announced Friday.

 

[alkemyst]

Because of this (from the story in the OP):

We paid $1k several times to have to access the internal network when our cellular routers would not work inside their building.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Because of this (from the story in the OP):

While insane, data roaming charges are even more insane.

It's pretty much extortion really. For the price you pay for a hotel room wifi should really be free.

 

[MustISO]

What they should have done is simply charged a reasonable rate to access wifi. Had they charged $20 I'm sure people would have paid. Charging $100 - 1000 for wifi access is way past insanity. One news report I heard quoted them as saying they needed to charge a lot due to cyber-threats. I'm guessing the person who said is brain dead but probably has a C-level position.

 

[Engineer]

Question: Did anyone pay the $1,000?

My wife asked me one time in Disney..."Why don't they lower the food prices?". I said "See that long line of people at the food stands? That's why.".

If people will pay it, companies will charge it.

(not saying that's the case here....not sure how many actually paid that amount).

 

[Red Squirrel]

There needs to be a law against charging ridiculous amounts for something that is clearly not the market price for that product. Otherwise companies will just continue to do stuff like this because they can.

Look at Microsoft licensing when it comes to enterprise networks. That's just downright criminal. Or at least, it should be.

 

[Engineer]

There needs to be a law against charging ridiculous amounts for something that is clearly not the market price for that product. Otherwise companies will just continue to do stuff like this because they can.

Look at Microsoft licensing when it comes to enterprise networks. That's just downright criminal. Or at least, it should be.

Just don't stay at Mariott. If they start leaving rooms empty, things will change.

 

[alkemyst]

Question: Did anyone pay the $1,000?

My wife asked me one time in Disney..."Why don't they lower the food prices?". I said "See that long line of people at the food stands? That's why.".

If people will pay it, companies will charge it.

(not saying that's the case here....not sure how many actually paid that amount).

This wasn't really those lodging there, most those doing exhibitions / seminars / et al.

My company was hit with this fee several times.

 

[azazel1024]

Running a blender, microwave, etc. makes the RF space more congested too. Let's ban them.

There is a difference between incidental and intentional interference.

 

[paperwastage]

This is interesting. I've been in factories and universities that have blocked stuff like this siting security reasons. I have a hard time saying no when I feel that they should be able to block wifi signals inside of their building. Now if we're talking about the cellular signal, then no. Wifi from other than their provided sources, then yes, they should be able to block it.

Edit: But I guess if our wise(ass) FCC says it's not OK, then I guess it can't be blocked. Just make sure to keep the power levels down or the FCC will kick your ass (just like they are doing to the router/AP market - just ask Asus).

I'm guessing active interference = bad, against FCC laws...

passive interference like faraday cage / constructing your building using 16 inch concrete brick to block out signal, maybe okay?

 

[s44]

passive interference like faraday cage / constructing your building using 16 inch concrete brick to block out signal, maybe okay?

It is ok, but a hotel built like that would piss off travelers something awful.