Marriott International and the American Hotel & Lodging Association have withdrawn their petition seeking direction from the FCC on legal Wi-Fi security measures.
According to a statement from Bruce Hoffmeister, Marriott’s global chief information officer, the company’s intent was to protect personal data in Wi-Fi hotspots for large conferences. “We thought we were doing the right thing asking the FCC to provide guidance, but the FCC has indicated its opposition,” Hoffmeister said. “As we have said, we will not block Wi-Fi signals at any hotel we manage for any reason.”
Katherine Lugar, president and CEO of AH&LA, said protecting guests’ sensitive data is a top priority for the hotel industry, as is providing a safe and secure Wi-Fi connection. AH&LA requested clarity from the FCC “to clear up the significant confusion that exists around what tools businesses can use to legally protect guests’ vital personal data,” Lugar stated. “We did not seek to block personal Wi-Fi.” Lugar said it was clear that the petition was not achieving this goal, so the association formally withdrew its petition on Jan. 30. To help resolve the issue of consumer safety and cybersecurity, AH&LA has convened a Cybersecurity Task Force.
In October 2014, the FCC imposed a $600,000 fine on Marriott International for allegedly blocking personal Wi-Fi hotspots in the conference facilities of the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.
