Consumer complaints about WiFi hotspot blocking to the FCC (Oct 2014-Dec 2015)

2000B - Billing, Privacy, or Service Quality Complaint

Before my recent upgrade to Iphone 6 from Iphone 45, I could turn on personal wirelesshotspot tethering feature. But that no longer works unless I pay verizon $20 more per

I month. An FCC settlement in 2012 prevented them from charging for that feature. I wantverizon to start allowing that feature again for all users without paying extra. Here is thelink to verizon's copy of the press release:https://community,verizonwireless.com/thread/779067Attached is the FCC press release.

I 2000F - Other Communications Complaint Not Covered by Form 2000A through Form 2000E

Kendall Park

NJ

08824

Complaint Information

Stayed at Day Inn Motel complained to front desk and Headquarters regard not able toreceive strong WiFi signal in the reserved room.

2000F - Other Communications Complaint Not Covered by Form 2000A through Form 2000E

1 4-C0061 8735-1

Web

10/03/2014

Rejected

Corn

I mation

I Essex

MA

21221


F

Blocking active Wifi hoWIFI service.

spot signals to force attendees to pay for expensive in-house


1101 Shoreway RoadUS 101 at Ralston Avenue/Marine World ParkwayBelmont CA 94002

has installed jamming technology to force users who have phone's with hot spots topurchase their wifi. When I entered the room I had rented, I lost my signal to my phone. Ihave a hot spot and the phone worked just fine every time I left the building in which myroom was in. It was only when I entered my room that I lost my signal.

II was told I had to purchase wifi though I could have used my hot spot that had 3G ofdata. Trying to receive phone calls was also very hard.


14-C00618801-1

Web

1OIO3I2O14

_____________Other

Alleged Rule Violation

Complainant Information

11i

Modesto

CA

95355


I Joie de Vivre Hotels

The ruling today with regard to Marriot blocking wi-fl reminded me of an issue I had a fewmonths ago while staying at the Waterfront Hotel in Oakland, CA, operated by http:/I

I www.jdvhotels.com . My hot spot was blocked and every attempt to surf pushed me to thehotel's page. It wasn't until I went across the street that I could access my own wi-fl.There are undoubtedly numerous hotels which do this so the message that it is illegalneeds to be more widely circulated.

2000A - Deceptive or Unlawful Advertising or Marketing Complaint

14-C00618871-1

Web

10/04/2014

Billing Practices/Rate Structures

I have a grandfathered unlimited data plan from ATI. When I upgraded my cell phone, Iwas assured that the mobile hotspot feature on the new phone would work with mycurrent plan.

I signed on to a 2 year, after ATT reps said it would work on my new phone.

After failed attempts to use the feature, I called ATT customer service. Now they refuseto turn on the hotspot feature, and says I'd have to upgrade my plan, increasing my $$ tothem.

200DB - Billing, Privacy, or Service Quality Complaint

They block persona! wifi & force u to pay per 12 hour period. They r by disneyland.


1 4-C00620048-1

Web

10/08/2014

_________________Broadband

_________________Availability


Clarence

MO

63437


Motel 6

.::: Motel 6 in Denver, CO week of 9-29-14 thru 10-3-14. Motel's WIFI acted like a virus.Would not remain disconnected. Excluded my phone's hotspot and forced me to pay thedaily fees in order to access the internet on my laptop. Also, their telephone help lineneglected to inform of the situation or the fact that their intervention was necessary to"push" the authorization code thru on any system newer than Windows 7, requiring dailycalls of approx. 30 mm.


14-C00620347-1

Web

110/09/2014

Service

________________Network Busy Signal


i mountainside

NJ

07092


I am unable to use my own wifi (through Verizon) on my smartphone when waiting for aplane at Newark airport. Instead, the airport blocks my Verizon wifi access and insteadrequires that I pay to use its service. Since I already pay Verizon for this service, I don'tknow why I should have to pay again to get access to wifi at the airport.


during our 3 day leadership training put on by office of the superintendent of publicinstruction we were blocked from using our phones. Our phones experienced extreambattery drainage as well. This was mentioned multiple times in forms of complaints andwas verbally recognized by OSPI on several occasions. Some thought jamming wasoccurring to punish ospi for no buying the wifi service. We therefor without cell service

I would not be able to make hotspots with our phones. The was the opinion by many.Rember the was their conference center not the hotel itself.


14-C00620968-1

W'eb

10/12/2014

Other


Other

Portland


OR

97217

Kla-Mo-Ya Casino

My wifi on my cell phone, which I use frequently for internet access while on the road, isbeing jammed and I am unable to use at this location. In the Klamath Reservation at theirCasino.

The wifi for their casino shows up, but my wifi, while turned on, does not show up for mycomputer. Having read about that major hotel which was found to be jamming WiFi I thinkthe same must be going on here. I have reset both laptop and self phone, and the WiFistill does not show up, except on occasion suddenly it will be there then gone.

2000F - Other Comm

1 4-C00620992-1

10/12/2014

Other

C p ainant Information

unications Complaint Not Covered by Form 2000A through Form 2000E

iFrnniiiinvzi Web


-Blythe

CA

92225


Aquarius Hotel and Resort, Laughlin, Nevada

Cell phone jamming and personal WiFi hotspot blocking. The hotel/resort is blocking cellphone reception throughout the propert. Cell phones do not work, even in the hotl rooms,despite having line-of-sight view of the cell phone towers nearby. There is also a largeamount of RE interferencce coming from the hotel in the 140-440 mHz range. The RFIand phone/wifi jamming is a constant ongoing occurance.


I was at a meeting at the Red Rock Resort. I have a voice and data package on myphone. When I tried to use data on my phone it showed I had a signal but would not logon to internet. I spoke to at least 10 other attendees of our convention who had the same

I problem, Some could not even get voice on their cell phone. I called the front desk of thehotel to complain, they connected me to their IT department. I asked the IT person if theywere doing anything to stop my cell phone signal. He said they were not. On Friday,10/10/2014 I was in the convention center. A hotel employee asked how the conventionwas going. I said fine except my cell phone internet would not work. The employee saidthat's because the convention center blocks wifi signals. I asked why they do that? The

a employee said because wifi in the convention center is a paid service. I then asked if theyheard about the FCC fining Marriott corp for blocking their customers signal. Theemployee said yes they had heard that.


14-C00621193-1

Web

10/13/2014

Non-Telecommunications


New Orleans

70116


Horseshoe Casino Bossier City, LA

This hotel is obviously blocking mobile hot spots. My friend and I have been kicked offour hot spots multiple times in the last 24 hours. Then rate to use the hotel Wi-Fi is

I $11.95 per day.


The Hotel AC Ponferrada, Spain by Marrioft is blocking wifi signal in the rooms. This isunfair, How can I conduct business in the hallway or lobby where they do provide wifi

1 access? I can't access any other wifi hotspots. I have to use my cellular data plan.


On several occasions I required internet access to communicate with my tax consultant. Ihave tethering capabilities on my phone and have used it many times at other locations. Iwas able to work around this limitation with a USB cable. Sharing with other devices suchas tablets was impossible.

You would expect a resort with thousands of rooms to have a few people unknowingly tohave wifi on. Only Hilton wireless showed up. Last, I checked with a wifi signal meter ona second phone and saw nothing. I changed hotels for the last two night of our stay andwifi tethering worked again.


14-C00622561-1

Web

I believe the retailers jamming mobile data access to force its customers use WiFi sothey can track in store movements and searches as well as serve ads.

2000B - Bifling, Privacy, or Service Quality Comp

1 4-C 00622682-1

10/19/2014

ii bought At&t international data roaming. As part of that, they push downloading their wifiapplication to find wifi and save data usage. however, their customer service hasinformed me that that they, in fact are counting that time and adding charges regardlessof whether connected to wifi or not, there are additional steps that have to be taken forthat to be true, however, they are not disclosing that when ordering online (or on thephone, in my experience), when i called, craig small was the customer service rep. hesaid, 1) he had no capability to reverse charges; 2) it didn't matter that they were notdisclosing the issue and 3) he blamed me.

20000 - Emergency or Public Safety Complaint

14-C00623199-1 'eb

1 0/21/2014

Other



Elmhurst

IL

60126


Las Vegas Convention Cente

The Convention Center seems to be blocking personal portable \MFi signals. I haveexperienced blocked service for 2 days while on site, and the service is restored when Ileave the convention center.The Convention Center seems to be blocking personal portable WiFi signals. I haveexperienced blocked service for 2 days while on site, and the service is restored when Ileave the convention center.

2000F - Other Communications Co plaint Not Covered by Form 2000A through Form 2000E

14-C00623518-1

Web

10/22/2014

Other

_________________Alleged Rule Violation


Trade Show Internet

j

San Francisco

CA

94123


Smart City Networks

We had two clients complain of their WiFi being jammed at the Orange CountyI Convention Center in Orlando, FL during the NBAA trade show. One client gave up on

using our rental equipment and purchased internet service from the in-house provider,Smart City Networks. They had no such WiFi jamming issues with Smart City's WFiservices. I contacted Smart City and they denied any wrongdoing, but we were able tocollect the attached router logs indicating deauthentication was taking place. This

I behavior continued until 10/21, at which point it appears to have subsided.

- Other Communications Complaint Not Covered by Form 2000A through Form 2000E2000 F

14-C00624090-1

10/24/2014

________________Other

ComplainanT Information

Web

Other

i Waunakee


Wi

53597

Indianapolis Convention Center

-

On the date above, we were at this location helping to run an event. We have a wiredconnection with the convention center, however several of us generally opt to usetethering capabilities on our phones. At this event, we were having great difficulty

I: connecting to any wireless access point. We tested two wireless routers (one I personallyuse at home) and was unable to connect to these networks. (in one test, I placed mypersonal router within three feet from two laptops, and neither computer could connect)

This extended to my phone's wifi hotspot functionality. I could connect fine when tetheredvia USB, however wirelessly I could not connect. This included trying to connectwirelessly when the phone was resting on the palm rest of the laptop trying to connect to

lit. Similar experiences were reported by several others in the event hall.

ions Complaint Not Covered by Form 2000A through Form 2000E

I beieve that the Hilton Hotel in Phoenix is preventing wireless access by any wirelessnetworks oither than the for-pay wireless network they provide, as Marriott Hotels hadbeen found guilty of doing. My cell phone's personal hotspot, which I ordinarily use forWiFi access in lieu of paid WiFi, was prevented from connection from my other deviceswhen I was a guest at this hotel on this night. The hotel is 2435 S 47th St, Phoenix, AZ

F 85034 ph# 480-894-1600


14-C 00624540-1

Broadband

_________________Access Caps - Cuto

Access to my wireless data network was blocked while I was in the airport terminal.Attempts to connect with the internet were redirected to the airports's wi-fl service where Iwas required to view an advertisement for Sprint. I did not want to connect to the internetthrough a wi-fl connection, I simply wanted to connect via my cellular data provider, but itappears that access was deliberately blocked. The following is the link to which I wasredirected when attempting to connect with the internet: http://airportwifl.com/BWI?MAFO%3AD1 %3AA9%3A59%3A05%3A34&link-login-only=https%3A%2F%2Fbwi.gateway.airportwifl.com %2Flogin&r=mikro&err=&in=vIan9O6&ip=1 92.1 68.200.80&sc lanq=en

UUUb - billing, vrivacy, or service Ui

1 4-C00625425-1 eb

10/29/2014

Identity Fraud


Francisco

CA

94122


verizon/california federal comunications comittee

beging in 2012 while liveing at the chase hotel in san francisco (l200blk of Market St.)room 404 with my now ex girl friend i started having trouble with my online and phonelineaccounts, after almost three years of trying to figure out the problem .1 think i have .thisall started with probl;ems weith my google account and at the time i had a dell lap topthatl would get internet for through my mobil hotspot on my iphone . wireless company at

F the time was verizon. in the beging it was just getting around the internet. Ways that Iwould use to accomplish certain things werent working . As they once did. At the time I

I had been using a computer since 2008. so i think the ways that i had usually used toaccomplish differt things such as logging in to gmail accounts sending and recievingemail didnt work as they did before . some 4 or 5 my privacy was gone and all that wentwith it through online sites such as creative commons and many developers add ons forapp aevelopers.

I 2000F - Other Corn

14-C00626000-1

10/31/2014

Broadband

unications Cornplaint Not Covered by Forrn 2000A through Forrn 2000E

'eb

Interference

Complainant intormation

Houston

TX

77005


Four Seasons Orlando

I Unable to access Verizon MiFi 4510L hotspot at hotel. Hotel offers free low speedinternet access. High speed available for a daily fee. Hotel tech denied blocking wifi, but

I also said they only support Four Seasons network. Suggested I call verizon totroubleshoot - unable to troubleshoot because lP address for hotspot is blocked by hotel.


I recently stayed at the Westin at the Yorktown Center in Lombard IL while attending aconference. During my stay I experienced difficulties using my smartphone (calls, texts,and the internet). My phone indicated that the signal was very week or that I didn't havea signal at all. Once I left the building my phone service was back to normal. The hotelhad WiFi for guest which was $3.95 to use.

2000F - Other Communications Complaint No Covered by Form 2000A through Form 2000E

14-C00627780-1

11/09/2014

Service

Corn

Information

NengHetty's Fine Accessories

Winston Salem

Complaint lnforrnation

EMBASSY SUITES AT ST. PAUL PL. BALTIMORE MARYLAND

I am here on government business with the Department of Veteran's Affairs. I amstaying here until November 14, 2014 and there are many others from the VA here aswell. I and many others have noticed that we are unable to use our smartphones and

, tablets as a hotspot. For some reason, they are seeming to be blocked entirely from.tethering and no matter how you try, your smartphone is blocked and will not work as atether. The wifi is freee for us from the VA but, the service is so weak and slow, you areforced to either leave the building or just pay the expensive fee to get fast wifi. No doubt,all tethering capabilities are completely blocked. Please help. Thanks in advance.

Web

Dead Spots

NC

27103

I (b) (6)

Public Safety Complaint2000D - Emergency o

14-C00628487-1

111/13/2014

______________Service


Staten Island

NY

10303


Marriot Hotel

For the last 8 months I have consistently had problems connecting to a wireless signal inmy office next to the Marriot Hotel at 350 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY. Employees andcustomers have repeatedly complained about compromised cell phone and data servicein the building connected to the Marriot. Many cell phones experience zero bars and nosignal next to the Marriot, and once several yards away, service restarts. This isextremely problematic for the city employees working next door. I've seen a problem withAT&T cell phone service and Verizon Wireless hotspot service. Thank You

I1EtffII!1TE1Z!!!1 Web

Availability

Covered by Form 2000A through Form 2000E2000F - Other Communications Complaint No

_______14-C00629889-1

1112112014

-

Other


DPS, Inc

•

Carmel

IN


indiana Convention Center

My company was an exhibitor at the IFDA conference/trade show. We had thoroughlytested our internet and wifi access using our mifi at the convention center twice prior tothe conference, both times during events. We had strong reception the day of the showright up to the opening of exhibit hours at 1:00pm. From then on we were not able to useour wifi due to interference or scrambling of the signal This continued for the duration of

I the show. As we relied on our wifi for a presentation of our latest software technology(DPS is a software development company), we lost a significant tool for the attendees tointeract with. I spoke to customer service at the convention center and they denied

I having any involvement. It certainly was not due to too many devices as it was aF relatively small event with probably less than 100 exhibitors and very few exhibitorsbesides us using wifi for presentations. We declined their wifi access as the fee wasexhorbitant. Similar to Mariott?

éb


46032


The hotel convention center appears to be blocking/interfering with personal wireless hotspots. I have tried to set mine up repeatedly and can not get either my laptop or iPad toconnect. I can of course opt to pay for their wireless service but I have already paid formine and would like to use it. Per the running against marriot/Gaylord hotels, I believe I

I should be able to.


McCormick Place in Chicago is violating section 333 of the Communications Act. Theyare blocking legitimate wifi access for visitors and forcing exhibitors to pay exorbitantrates for access. They even outline their practices in this document: http:IIwww.strictlysailchicago.com/assets/cabinets/Cabinet28O/McCormick%2OPIace%2OTelephone-Cable-Jnternet%200rder%2OForms%20-%2OCBS 1 5.pdf This should be

[stopped.

Documents

Consumer complaints about WiFi hotspot blocking to the FCC (Oct 2014-Dec 2015)