The U.S. Federal Commerce Commission is apparently looking into whether Hilton Worldwide may have blocked the lawful use of Wi-Fi hotspots at one of its hotels and has proposed a US$25,000 fine against the company for allegedly obstructing an investigation into any wrongdoing.
The FCC said it requested documents and information on Hilton properties and that the company failed to provide in full. The FCC also warned that more fines could be in store unless Hilton better cooperates.
In August 2014, Hilton guests began complaining to the FCC, specifically the Hilton Anaheim in California next to the convention center, that the hotel was blocking their ability to use their own Wi-Fi hotspots unless they paid a US$500 fee.
In November 2014, the FCC sent Hilton a letter of inquiry asking the company for basic information about its Wi-Fi blocking practices. But a year later, the FCC says Hilton has failed to provide responses for “the vast majority of its properties.”
The FCC has banned the use of Wi-Fi jammers and in January fined Marriott International $600,000 for blocking Wi-Fi in its convention centers.
Editor’s note: After publishing this story, Hilton Worldwide issued this statement to HOTELS: “We strongly disagree with the decision by the FCC Enforcement Bureau. Hilton supports open access to private Wi-Fi networks for our customers through their personal devices, while at the same time protecting their personal information. We have a policy in place that states our commitment to secure open access and prohibits hotels from blocking Wi-Fi, and it is repeatedly communicated to all properties. Throughout this inquiry, we have cooperated with the FCC, providing extensive background and details in a timely and efficient manner. We believe that the FCC has no basis for vastly expanding the initial inquiry based on a single complaint at a single Hilton hotel.”