Boston Wi-Fi Spat Born in Airport Lounge May Set U.S. Rules

[shugah]

Boston Wi-Fi Spat Born in Airport Lounge May Set U.S. Rules

Feb. 20 (Bloomberg) -- A fight over Web access at a lounge in Boston's Logan International Airport may determine how thousands of businesses use the Internet.

The Massachusetts Port Authority demanded Continental Airlines Inc. take down an antenna that receives signals for the service in its lounge for frequent flyers. Continental wants federal regulators to intervene, saying the case could grant landlords with office buildings, stadiums and airports nationwide the right to decide who can operate networks.

``You shouldn't have a situation where the neighborhood bully gets to kick everyone else off the spectrum,'' said Paul Garnett, assistant vice president of regulatory affairs at CTIA- The Wireless Association in Washington, a group representing the airline and telephone companies that provide the service.

The fight may crimp adoption of wireless fidelity technology, or Wi-Fi, Garnett said. From cities such as San Francisco and Philadelphia to companies including T-Mobile USA and AT&T Inc., officials are fighting over who collects as much as $3.6 billion a year in revenue from Wi-Fi services that connect computer users to the Internet via radio signals.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aXXwvFwUPXXI&refer=us

[1932]

1. This is where the real advantage of having Scalitos on the federal bench

is for Republicans.

This is where the money is for large American corporations -- it's in federal courts saying that if you own the property you can own the ways people communicate with each other when they're on the property.

[meegbear]

2. They're whining because they'll make no money ...

they have a deal with Comcast at Logan Airport where you can go onto a basic info service, headlines, weather, etc. but if you want to go online, you have to pay $7.95. Continential is offering it for free.

[benburch]

3. I am betting that the TSA watches all that web surfing, too.

I am getting to where I really hate what this country is becoming.

[Shipwack]

4. How much longer until we catch up to the civilized world?

I had a long layover in Amsterdam recently. It is a nice airport, with a casino -and- an art museum inside (only in Europe..). Best of all (to me, at least) was that wireless access was available most everywhere. Supposedly there was free access in some spots, but I couldn't get it to work, so I shelled out about $10 for an all day pass to a pay network.

You also were allowed to use any electrical outlet to recharge your laptop or other devices. I can't imagine officials at Newark International allowing you to sit down next to a sign and plug in.

[AndyTiedye]

10. There is Even Free WiFi In the Airport in WARSAW

[Ilsa]

5. As bored as I was with a long layover, there was no way I was going

pay $10 at Bush Intercontinental in Houston for internet use for half a day. It was the principle of the thing, even though I would have loved to have spent the time reading articles referenced on DU.

[jeffrey_X]

12. I have a major rant about paying for a "24 hour pass" while waiting...

in an airport for only 1 to 3 hours at the most!!! This makes no fucking sense. At what gets me even madder is when I go to airports where the wifi is free. This is no consistency and it makes no fucking sense.

/rant

[k8conant]

6. Tallahassee Airport has free wireless access

I used it there in October and November 2005.

[megatherium]

9. So does PDX (Portland, Oregon). nt

[henslee]

7. The details of the lounge's internet incident are not provided.

Until they are, it sure seems like a pretext for powers to make a grab at regulation. I guess a wifi clause has to be in any lease you write these days.

[Solo_in_MD]

8. Same kind of thing at University of Texas last year

and they backed down

http://news.com.com/College+backs+off+Wi-Fi+ban/2100-7351_3-5369921.html

[ChairmanAgnostic]

11. What's the worst possible result? That's what bush will do with this issue

If you analyze it from that perspective, the answer will become obvious.