Boston airport tries to kill free Wi-Fi node

Boston's Logan International Airport is attempting to pull the plug on Continental Airlines' free Wi-Fi node, which competes with the airport's $7.95-a-day pay service.

In an escalating series of threatening letters sent over the last few weeks, airport officials have pledged to "take all necessary steps to have the (Wi-Fi) antenna removed" from Continental's frequent flyer lounge. Continental's free service poses an "unacceptable potential risk" to communications gear used by the state police and the Transportation Security Administration, the letters claim.

For its part, Continental says that a 1996 law prevents local officials from meddling with wireless service and has asked the Federal Communications Commission to intervene. Its letter to the FCC argues that the agency has "exclusive jurisdiction" over Wi-Fi and should keep local authorities at bay.

"We believe that offering free Wi-Fi at Boston's Logan airport is consistent with the FCC's regulations and its prior rulings on similar issues and that it is permissible under the terms of our lease," Continental spokeswoman Julie King said Wednesday. The airline provides free wireless access at all of its Presidents Club lounges worldwide.

The Massachusetts Port Authority, or Massport, the state government agency that operates Logan airport, was not available for comment.

At stake is a sizable chunk of revenue that Massport receives from its pay-per-use Wi-Fi service, which is operated by a commercial provider called Advanced Wireless Group. Massport did not respond to queries about the current sum, but the Boston Globe reported two years ago that the contract gives Massport "up to a maximum of 20 percent of annual gross revenues, which could exceed $1 million annually."

Whether Continental will be allowed to continue its free service in its Presidents Club lounge may depend on the FCC's interpretation of an obscure set of rules that grew out of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. While Congress appears to have intended to authorize outdoor antennas and satellite dishes under a certain size, the airline claims the law covers Wi-Fi antennas built into access points--an interpretation the FCC also mentions on its Web page on the topic.

Massport is conceding nothing. Deborah Lau Kee, an attorney for the state agency, wrote in a July 5 letter that the FCC's regulations may not even be "lawful." Kee added that Continental is free to purchase access from Massport's partner at a "very reasonable rate structure for airline use based on the number of emplanements at Logan airport or on the number of 'hits.'"

The FCC has started its investigation of Continental's request and is accepting public comments until Aug. 29.

[stephenpace]

Let Continental Be

I pay for Continental lounge access and find it very convenient to sync my email before and after flights when lounges are present (in fact, this is a big part of the reason I have it). Sorry, but this low powered WiFi access point poses no "unacceptable potential risk" for security. Rather, Logan is making the same tired claim that apartment owners made back when they thought they could lock tenants into expensive, low quality cable access by preventing satellite access. Their cash cow is in jeopardy so they are making a last ditch argument to save it. Frankly, the airport should be concentrating on things that makes air travel experience better, not worse. On a trip last year out of Logan I saw a mouse in the gate area (cute, but not something I want running past my head at 6AM in the morning). I say, focus on fixing up the rest of the airport first, then work on other ways to take our money and generally make our travel experience worse. Let Continental be. FCC: please stand up for our rights.

[Earl Benser]

This isn't the only case.....

.. Television has been full of ads for people to install WiFi access
points "in all the key locations", and then wait for the money to
roll in. At the same time, many businesses are providing free
WiFi access, and cell phones are beginning to emulate
computers for internet access.

Anyone who has invested money in a 'profit generating' WiFI
access point is going to be ticked at all the free access points
springing up. And some are going to try to sue to protect their
investment. Never mind that the investment was somewhat
stupid in the first place (TV Scam????), they will still sue.

And I sure hope they all lose. Most of them are losers anyhow.

More models of free Internet service

Dupont Circle--a park in Washington, DC, not far from the White House--has free Internet service provided by an IT firm, a hotel, and a law firm. It's an advertising supported model of free service. Logan Airport is fighting a losing battle with the daily-pay model.

So whats next&no more unlicensed ISM!?

The airport and its governing bodies should all hang their heads in shame. They are acting like 2-year olds that wont share a new toy with their sister. Come-on already! Continental is leasing the space and is already paying for their spot in the airport; they pay gate fees and generate revenue for the airport by flying in and out of it, for crying out loud. Now the airport is shunning Continental for a service that is free all around major cities!? (And making bogus claims to the 802.11 causing interference and posing a security risk, they have licensed frequencies that industries like the Wireless Broadband community could only dream of using.) Sorry, but this airport needs to focus on things that really matter and not be so greedy.

Heaven Forebid something is Free!

The airport is looking for just another way to exploit the consumer. Frankly one of the nicest features when I fly is to find a free Wi-Fi spot, such as Jet Blue's terminal 6 at JFK. It shows a company going an extra step for the customer. Maybe Logan should consider Free Wi-Fi, it might boost their reputation, people would maybe get to the airport earlier to do work and spend money at the shops. I'm all for Continental being left alone!

[ray08]

I just hope the FCC squashes "Massport"!

<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html" target="_newWindow">http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html</a>

This is a must read for anyone interested in this case. "Massport" has NO "authority" in this issue, according to the FCC! I also read today that some dumb-a$$ senator is trying to get a bill thru that disallows local municipalities from providing free wi-fi!

Folks, this is all about greed and nothing more. Everyone wants to control the internet (and other medias) so they can extort money from the "customer", ie, the victim!

[sbartelski]

politics stinks

and you know why the senator is sponsoring such a bill? Because he sees the companies (telco/cable) that give him money to be re-elected more important than the people that re-elect him. His consituents are too stupid to worry about who gives him money and what impact that may have...or are they? We wil see next election.

[Catgic]

Boston Bureaucrats the BE$T THAT MONEY CAN BUY

Boston Bureaucrats the BE$T THAT MONEY ¢AN BUY.

Boston, Massport and Taxsachusetts never met a FREEBIE they didnt want to tax &#38; fee.

First, Continentals Free WiFi is not FREE. You have to be a member of the Presidents Club to gain access to the Clubs lounge, and its Free WiFi. You must purchase a membership with M-O-N-E-Y, the amount based upon your frequent flyer One-Pass Elite status and membership type selected. Access to Wi-Fi is included in the membership benefits, but it is NOT FREE.

Second, the Presidents Club lounge is located inside the Airports Security Zone. All users of the Club had to pass through and past TSA Screening/Screeners. So how could users of Continentals Prez Club WiFi be an "unacceptable potential risk" to state police and the Transportation Security Administration EMC/EMI, airport security or otherwise?

What exactly is FREE? Massports attorney, Deborah Lau Kee, made that very plain.

She said&Continental is FREE TO PURCHASE ACCESS from Massport's partner at a "very reasonable rate structure for airline use based on the number of emplanements at Logan airport or on the number of 'hits.' CHA-CHING $$$.¢¢

Free-Web [WiFi] for All, Web-Freedom, for All. JP B-)

The claim that

Continental's WiFi poses an ..." "unacceptable potential risk" to communications gear used by the state police and the Transportation Security Administration" is LUDICROUS (Ludacris? :P ) when the Airport ALREADY RUNS its OWN node!!!!

Not only does the Airport _NOT_ have any standing to complain about Continental setting up its own node (I guess there's no WiFi McDonald's in the airport?), as long as there's no laws being broken NOT EVEN the mighty FCC can say jack about it. Only the FAA can make the assertion that the WiFi is "interfering" with something on airport grounds.

Ludicrous. Oh, and nakedly greedy, too ;)

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[cris2per]

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