Sometimes when you create your iPhone WiFi hotspot in a hotel or business somewhere in the U.S. your unauthorized Wi-Fi AP becomes blocked by your hotel or other company. Such practice should be stopped since the FCC prohibits blocking such WiFi hotspots in the USA from now on.
The commission has issued a document titled ‘Enforcement Advisory’ where it doesn’t allow hotels and others to block Wi-Fi APs created by their guests. This document is released after Marriott asked the body to allow blocking unauthorized access points made by its guests.
As the FCC clears it now, if anyone intentionally interferes with user personal WiFi hotspot or network, this will be subjected to enforcement action. The commission also noted that it had seen in the past how commercial companies and hotels blocked their customers / guests when they tried to use their personal Wi-Fi hotspots. Such consumers are to be protected.
Less than a year ago, Marriott had to pay $600,000 after it blocked WiFi hotspot access to its guests in Tennessee. The fine was issued by the FCC. The hotel had to pay the cost but it later requested the FCC to allow it banning such networks in the future and got the answer that such thing couldn’t be done.
Anyone in the U.S. who is planning to block unauthorized iPhone WiFi hotspots or other personal networks will be forced to pay big fines.