Marriott, a popular global hotel chain, recently asked the Federal Communications Commission to allow it to block personal Wi-Fi hotspots made by guests on its properties. When this was reported naturally there was a lot of criticism, even Google and Microsoft opposed the decision, but now Marriott is clarifying its intention behind this request and hoping that this might clear things up in peoples’ minds.
It was widely suggested in media reports that a ban on personal Wi-Fi hotspots would apply to all guests staying on Marriott properties. This was construed as an attempt on the hotel chain’s part to push guests to its own Wi-Fi network but Marriott has now clarified this through a post on its blog.
The chain says that “it has never been nor will ever be” its policy to limit guests ability to use the internet by any and all means, “including through the use of personal Mi-Fi and/or Wi-Fi devices.”
Marriott has said that it only wants to block personal Wi-Fi hotspots in conference and meeting rooms, giving a good reason for it. It wants to do this to ensure that meeting or conference attendees are not open to a security threat, and the aim is to detect and contain “rogue and imposter Wi-Fi hotspots” that may be set up in a meeting or conference space on a Marriott property.
This should clear things up for everyone, particularly individual guests, who can rest assured because Marriott isn’t after their Wi-Fi hotspots.
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