I am happily ensconced this morning at that beautiful Villa Pinciana not far from the Roman steps in Roma, Italy. Besides the beauty of this location and this hotel, one other thing is likely to stand out for American travelers not just at this but virtually all hotels in this country: free wifi. As many of you know, I have long complained about the practice of high-end hotels charging ridiculous fees for wifi while cheaper hotels (and countless coffee shops, restaurants, and other establishments) offer it for free.(Here and here and here) It is an open gouging of business travelers but these hotels which are charging hundreds of a night only to demand that guests pay them for something free on the street. Now there is a small victory against the corporate greed of high-end hotels. Marriott has agreed to pay a $600,000 fine after the Federal Communications Commission found the company blocked consumer Wi-Fi networks last year during an event at a hotel and conference center in Nashville. Of course, nothing changes in Marriott ripping off guests for wifi generally, but they stand to do the electronic version of poisoning wells to force travelers to drink at their well.
It turns out that Marriott was charging exhibitors and others as much as $1,000 per device to access the hotel’s wireless network while blocking their Wi-Fi access. The way Marriott sabotaged its own guests was by using “containment features of a Wi-Fi monitoring system” at the hotel to prevent people from accessing their own personal Wi-Fi networks. The hotel was forced to agree to stop the practice at all of its properties, not just the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville. I would love to know who busted the hotel. In March 2013, someone sent the FCC a complaint that the hotel was “jamming mobile hot spots so that you can’t use them in the convention space.”
Marriott however agreed to the settlement but still insists that it was acting entirely appropriately: “Marriott has a strong interest in ensuring that when our guests use our Wi-Fi service, they will be protected from rogue wireless hot spots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft.” Wow, forcing people to pay $1,000 a device was Marriott way of protecting people from unscrupulous actors.
Here is the FCC press release.
What continues to amaze me is that high-end American hotels continue to rip off travelers when most of the market offer free wi-fi as a basic feature for guests. It turns out that Marriott is only “Your home away from home” if you come from an incredibly abusive and usurious family.
Source: CNN
Aridog, When I taught school there would often be a child who didn’t have the intelligence or social skills to get positive attention. I would often learn the child had problems @ home like sexual abuse, alcoholism, domestic violence, etc. I would try and find something for that child that would give them an opportunity to get some positive attention. But, some kids were just too far gone.
“Miss Queen, Swarthmoremom’s husband and father have been used as pseudonyms. Swarthmoremom voiced her displeasure and despite this, I don’t believe that the poster who used her name as part of their hamdle has been banned. Is it fair when one poster gets away with murder while others are held to a higher standard? When injustice prevails the citizens of the town become resentful and rebel.” Mr. Spumoni What you said is true about Swathmore dad and Swarthmore dada being used to mock me. I would not expect Darren to do anything about it because he on their side, and it is obvious.
SWM – it is my policy not to respond to people who I think are spoofing someone else unless I think I am pretty sure I know who they are. One of the problems of allowing an anonymous site is that it can happen. We all know who Mr. Spumoni is. Her writing style sticks out like a sore thumb. She said she was going to retire until JT got back. By that I guess she meant her nom de plume not her activity on this blog.
Mr. Shulte…
My wife makes me carry her purse. Dang embarrassing. If I refuse I sleep in the dog house. She wears the pants in the family, I sometimes wear her dresses.
Annie – all husband’s know that a happy wife is a happy life.
Anyone notice how this thread has been commandeered in the already well known style of another “entity?” Presto … and suddenly the thread is all about that “entity.” Forget the topic itself or any of the differing opinions professed…which are worthy of discussion in their own right…Nope, we’ll have none of that just now.
Annie – thought you were going to stay away until JT got back. Decide to come in disguise instead?
To make it perfectly clear to all, I do not want anyone to think I am any other poster here on this blog! I am a unique entity created for entertainment purposes only. Any similarity to live people are entirely coincidental.
Annie – you can say whatever you want to CYA, but you are taking advantage of Darren and the absence of JT. This will not be forgotten.
Miss Queen, I think you forgot Darren is in charge here in the Professor’s absense.
Miss Queen, Swarthmoremom’s husband and father have been used as pseudonyms. Swarthmoremom voiced her displeasure and despite this, I don’t believe that the poster who used her name as part of their hamdle has been banned. Is it fair when one poster gets away with murder while others are held to a higher standard? When injustice prevails the citizens of the town become resentful and rebel.
Darren, Thanks, very much. Both you and JT have a very easy going and temperate demeanor. As you have just seen, with the new childish variation on my name, this is a pernicious problem and a direct assault on this blog. I did chuckle because “Spumoni” was the taunting name I and my siblings would get when we were in grammar school. Same w/ my kids, jerks in grammar school would call them “Spumoni” or “Spaghetti.”
IMHO this is actually somewhat similar to a theater or baseball stadium prohibiting outside beverages/food. Its their property.
Free NYC Pics – in Arizona there is some interesting case law on food in establishments, especially movie theaters. For a movie theater to prevent you from bring in food they have to declare that their primary business is serving food (which it is, but they will not admit). So, now people walk in with drinks in hand all the time. Most have food in the wife’s purse.
I wonder. Is it possible to ban a commenter in Word Press by the IP address that she uses?
I just made some meatballs for tonight’s dinner, I do all the cooking!
No… her…now I’m all discombobulated! Thank you very much Darren!
Can I speak about my spouse? I love her….er…him so much.
Do you simply dislike Spinelli or all Italians?
Is this better?
Aka “Mrs. Spindelli”
You have been requested by another user to stop using an alias that conveys the impression that you are his spouse. It is apparent that in assuming this alias, you have taken to making comments that are disparaging against this particular user and his actual spouse. The slight spelling difference is not an affirmative defense to the use of this alias. In fact, the subterfuge has given third parties the impression the alias was in fact the spouse.
It is a violation of this website’s policy to assume the identity of another against their wishes.
We request that you change your alias to another name that does not cause these issues.
Darren, I have a comment in moderation. Just using the euphemism “b@stardization will free it up. Another horrible aspect of word press, no ability to edit or delete a comment.
When cell phones first became popular hotels used jammers to prevent people form using their own cell phone and have to use the exorbitant hotel phones. There was an uproar and that practice ceased. It appears hotels are now trying the same tactic w/ wifi. Courtyard Marriott has been my go to hotel for business and leisure for years. This wifi horseshit is just the last couple years. It’s usually in larger metro areas. Many of the properties I use in the Midwest don’t charge.
Just to go against another comment, I do, indeed, miss Annie.