If you haven’t heard the news about The Gaylord Opryland Marriott Hotel in Nashville and the little bit of trouble they recently got into with the FCC, read on. Anyone who uses WI-FI in their business or accesses it on the go (and really, who doesn’t these days?) can learn from their mistake.

According to the FCC website, The Gaylord Opryland Marriott Hotel in Nashville must pay $600,000 in fines to the FCC for WI-FI jamming. In addition to the fine, the hotel is forced to file compliance reports for the next 3 years.

At a recent conference, a conference attendee complained about the hotel blocking the use of personal WI-FI devices, such as WI-FI sharing devices that connect to your mobility provider. The Marriott in Nashville was jamming signals and forcing attendees to use their overpriced hotel-provided WI-FI. This Internet access was a high as $1,000 per conference attendee. Ouch.

Marriott, in their defense, claims they are protecting their guest from rogue hotspots that could be used to trick hotel guests and conference attendees, but the FCC forbids blocking, jamming, or interference with authorized radio communications, including Wi-Fi.

Read the entire ruling here.

Are you thinking about setting a secure wireless network in your business? You’ve got to make sure that you don’t run afoul of any FCC regulations when it comes to providing a network. Don’t try to come up with tricks to force your clients into paying for a service they don’t want, and don’t fall into the same trap The Marriot did.

Your team at Vertical IT can help. We are your experts in ensuring your business has a secured and accessible wireless network for your staff, guests, and customers. Book your complimentary wireless networking review with our team today. Call (888) 505-8215 or send us an email at info@verticalitcorp.com. We are here to help your business with all your information systems and network architecture.