[CWN-Summit] Fwd: logan airport seeks to ban free wifi

[Michael Oh]

Hi everyone,

A local Boston WiFi fight, but it's escalating to a national level -  
i.e the FCC.

Please read and take action!

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi

To submit comments, use the reference 05-247.

Thanks,
Mike

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Patrick McCormick <patrick_mccormick at ksg05.harvard.edu>
> Date: August 4, 2005 10:28:26 AM EDT
> To: "BostonWAG WiFi List" <wifi at bostonwag.org>
> Subject: logan airport seeks to ban free wifi
> Reply-To: "BostonWAG WiFi List" <wifi at bostonwag.org>
>
>
> Continental Airlines is fighting for their right to
> offer free WiFi (info below) at Boston's Logan
> Airport.
>
> To support free WiFi at Logan Airport and to prevent a
> chilling precedent in FCC policy, please submit a
> public comment to the FCC.  This PDF has instructions
> for submitting comments, both by e-mail and snail
> mail.
>
> http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-2213A1.pdf
>
> Thanks,
> Pat McCormick.
>
> PS - And please help spread the word beyond our WAG
> list.
>
>
> http://news.com.com/Boston+airport+tries+to+kill+free+Wi-Fi+node/ 
> 2100-7351_3-5817482.html?tag=nefd.top
>
> Boston airport tries to kill free Wi-Fi node
> Published: August 3, 2005, 2:25 PM PDT
> By Declan McCullagh
> Staff Writer, CNET News.com
>
> 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.
>
>
>
>
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