According to the FCC, its investigators have been trying to look into whether the Anaheim Hilton blocked guests from logging into their own Wi-Fi mobile hotspots, and instead forced them to use the resort’s network at charges of up to $500.
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While that indeed seems small, it could be just the beginning for Hilton, as the FCC fined hotel chain Marriott $600,000 in October 2014 for blocking Wi-Fi in convention centers across the US; Smart City Holdings and M.C. Dean received $750,000 and $718,000 fines for similar activities, respectively.
The FCC started the year by issuing a warning that it will no longer tolerate hotels, convention centers or others intentionally interfering with personal Wi-Fi hotspots.
Such was the case with M.C. Dean, which maintained the Wi-Fi network in the Baltimore Convention Center.
In January this year, the FCC published an advisory that made clear it’s against the law to block Wi-Fi signals.
Hilton has not yet been found to have actually jammed Wi-Fi hotspots. The latest pair of cartoon corporate villains: Hilton Hotels, and M.C. Dean, provider to Wi-Fi to the Baltimore Convention Center. “This disturbing practice must come to an end”. “By today’s action, the FCC clarifies that any deliberate interference with Wi-Fi violates the law against deliberately jamming lawful communications”. The FCC acted on a complaint from a company that provides equipment allowing users to establish hotspots at trade shows and conventions.
The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau was busy on the Wi-Fi front Monday, also proposing to fine Hilton Worldwide Holdings $25,000 for what it said was apparent obstruction of the FCC’s investigation into whether Hilton engaged in blocking consumers Wi-Fi devices.
M.C. Dean has 30 days to contest the proposed fine.
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The FCC teamed the proposal with a request that the company immediately provide “essential” documents about its Wi-Fi management practices.
