[CWN-Summit] MAP statement on FCC decision in Massport/Continental

[Harold Feld]

In response to the decision of the Federal Communications Commission 
(FCC) that Logan Airport (operated by Massport) cannot prevent 
Continental Airlines from operating an independent "wifi" system for 
the benefit of Continental customers, Media Access Project Senior 
Vice President Harold Feld had the following statement:

"Today's decision goes well beyond free wifi in airports.  It 
provides a powerful affirmation to the community wireless movement in 
the United States by protecting the rights of users to operate wifi 
access points and other unlicensed devices whether or not a landlord 
has an exclusive arrangement with a provider."

"Just last week, the City of Boston moved ahead with a project to 
provide wireless access points in the Roxbury neighborhood.  The City 
is meeting with community groups to discuss how to extend this 
wireless access into the apartments of neighborhood residents that 
cannot afford cable or DSL broadband subscriptions.  Had the FCC 
decided for Massport, the landlords of these apartments could have 
blocked users from accessing the free or low-cost service the City of 
Boston will provide.  But because the FCC has protected the freedom 
of tenants to use the wireless equipment and the wireless provider of 
their choice, the City of Boston and community groups can continue to 
develop plans to bridge the digital divide with cheap, unlicensed 
wireless networks."

The case is In re Continental Airlines, ET Docket No. 05-247. Media 
Access Project, a non-profit public interest law firm, represented 
the following parties in the case: Masspirg, U.S. PIRG, The New 
America Foundation, Champaign Urbana Wireless Network, The National 
Hispanic Media Coalition, Hawaii Consumers, Freenetworks.org, Acorn 
Active Media, Marcus Spectrum Solutions, and Free Press.

A copy of the decision can be found at: 
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-157A1.pdf

Press Contact: Harold Feld, 202-454-5684, hfeld at mediaaccess.org
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