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    Public Notice: FCC Enforcement Advisory

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    bbrown8331
    The FCC issued an enforcement advisory warning that intentionally blocking or disrupting personal Wi-Fi hotspots is illegal and prohibited. The FCC conducted an investigation into Marriott International blocking customer's personal Wi-Fi hotspots and Marriott paid a $600,000 penalty. The FCC will aggressively investigate and take action against entities found to be intentionally blocking personal Wi-Fi hotspots. Consumers who believe their personal Wi-Fi hotspot was blocked can file a complaint with the FCC.

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    Public Notice: FCC Enforcement Advisory

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    bbrown8331
    24 views2 pages
    The FCC issued an enforcement advisory warning that intentionally blocking or disrupting personal Wi-Fi hotspots is illegal and prohibited. The FCC conducted an investigation into Marriott International blocking customer's personal Wi-Fi hotspots and Marriott paid a $600,000 penalty. The FCC will aggressively investigate and take action against entities found to be intentionally blocking personal Wi-Fi hotspots. Consumers who believe their personal Wi-Fi hotspot was blocked can file a complaint with the FCC.

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    DA-15-113A1

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    The FCC issued an enforcement advisory warning that intentionally blocking or disrupting personal Wi-Fi hotspots is illegal and prohibited. The FCC conducted an investigation into Marriott International blocking customer's personal Wi-Fi hotspots and Marriott paid a $600,000 penalty. The FCC will aggressively investigate and take action against entities found to be intentionally blocking personal Wi-Fi hotspots. Consumers who believe their personal Wi-Fi hotspot was blocked can file a complaint with the FCC.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    24 views2 pages

    Public Notice: FCC Enforcement Advisory

    Uploaded by

    bbrown8331
    The FCC issued an enforcement advisory warning that intentionally blocking or disrupting personal Wi-Fi hotspots is illegal and prohibited. The FCC conducted an investigation into Marriott International blocking customer's personal Wi-Fi hotspots and Marriott paid a $600,000 penalty. The FCC will aggressively investigate and take action against entities found to be intentionally blocking personal Wi-Fi hotspots. Consumers who believe their personal Wi-Fi hotspot was blocked can file a complaint with the FCC.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    You are on page 1of 2

    PUBLIC NOTICE

    Federal Communications Commission


    445 12th St., S.W.
    Washington, D.C. 20554

    News Media Information 202 / 418-0500


    Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
    TTY: 1-888-835-5322

    DA 15-113
    January 27, 2015
    Enforcement Advisory No. 2015-01

    FCC ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY


    WARNING: Wi-Fi Blocking is Prohibited
    Persons or Businesses Causing Intentional Interference to Wi-Fi Hot Spots
    Are Subject to Enforcement Action
    In the 21st Century, Wi-Fi represents an essential on-ramp to the Internet. Personal Wi-Fi
    networks, or hot spots, are an important way that consumers connect to the Internet. Willful
    or malicious interference with Wi-Fi hot spots is illegal. Wi-Fi blocking violates Section 333 of
    the Communications Act, as amended.1 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 establishments premises. As a result, the
    Bureau is protecting consumers by aggressively investigating and acting against such unlawful
    intentional interference.
    In 2014, the Enforcement Bureau conducted an investigation, culminating with a Consent
    Decree, into this kind of unlawful activity by the operator of a resort hotel and convention
    center.2 In that case, Marriott International, Inc. deployed a Wi-Fi deauthentication protocol to
    deliberately block consumers who sought to connect to the Internet using their own personal
    Wi-Fi hot spots. Marriott admitted that the customers it blocked did not pose a security threat

    47 U.S.C. 333.

    Marriott Intl, Inc.; Marriott Hotel Servs, Inc., Order and Consent Decree, 29 FCC Rcd 11760 (Enf. Bur.
    2014). Marriott and other members of the hotel and lodging industry filed a petition requesting guidance
    on this issue. See Petition of Am. Hotel & Lodging Assn, Marriott Intl, Inc., and Ryman Hospitality Props.
    for a Declaratory Ruling to Interpret 47 U.S.C. 333, or, in the Alternative, for Rulemaking, RM-11737 (filed
    Aug. 25, 2014) (Petition). Comment was sought on the Petition. Consumer & Govt Affairs Bureau
    Reference Information Center Petition for Rulemaking Filed, Public Notice, RM 11737 (Nov. 19, 2014).
    While the Enforcement Bureau recognizes that the Petition questions our position, the Bureau will
    continue to enforce the law as it understands it unless and until the Commission determines otherwise.

    Page 1 of 2

    to the Marriott network and agreed to settle the investigation by paying a civil penalty of
    $600,000.
    Following the settlement, the Enforcement Bureau has received several complaints that other
    commercial Wi-Fi network operators may be disrupting the legitimate operation of personal WiFi hot spots. The Bureau is investigating such complaints and will take appropriate action
    against violators.
    What 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 owners Wi-Fi network. Such action is illegal and violations
    could lead to the assessment of substantial monetary penalties.3
    In addition, we reiterate that Federal law prohibits the operation, marketing, or sale of any type
    of jamming equipment, including devices that interfere with Wi-Fi, cellular, or public safety
    communications. Detailed information about the prohibition against jamming is available on
    the Commissions website at http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/jammer-enforcement.
    What Should You Do if You Suspect Wi-Fi Blocking? 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.
    Need More Information? Media inquiries should be directed to Neil Grace at 202-418-0506 or
    neil.grace@fcc.gov. For general information on the FCC, you may contact the FCC at 1-888CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) or visit our website at www.fcc.gov. To request materials in
    accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format),
    send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).
    Issued by: Chief, Enforcement Bureau

    All operators, including of a Part 15 device, must comply with the Communications Act, including Section
    333, and the Commissions rules.
    Page 2 of 2

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