Hotel chain Marriott International tried to stem the flow of complaints about its personal Wi-Fi blocking plan Tuesday, saying that it doesn’t want to limit guests’ ability to get online in their rooms but would like to block networks in its conference or meeting spaces.
The company issued a statement Tuesday trying to clarify its request to the Federal Communications Commission for permission to block Wi-Fi devices on its property. In October, the agency fined Marriott $600,000 for using blocking technology to knock out Wi-Fi devices at its Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center space.
Marriott customers and others have been complaining on Twitter about the Wi-Fi blocking proposal since it started getting attention earlier this month after the FCC began accepting comments about the idea. Since Wi-Fi networks operate on unlicensed airwaves, generally anyone can use them, and parties aren’t allowed to block access.
“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,” Marriott said in a statement. Instead, the hotel chain said it wants the leeway to block networks which might “pose a security threat to meeting or conference attendees or cause interference to the conference guest wireless network,” the company said.
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