Wi-Fi Spectrum Battle at Airports: Safety or Profits at Stake?
A simmering battle between airports authorities and airlines over management of wireless networks has boiled over at Logan International Airport in Boston, and the FCC has been asked to intervene.
The dispute stems from a Continental Airlines program that provides free wi-fi service to passengers in its President's Club lounges. While some airport authorities also provide free wi-fi within passenger terminals, at Logan travelers must pay a daily fee of $7.95 for the service. Continental frequent fliers, however, can step into the airline's lounge and avoid that fee.
The Massachusetts Port Authority has demanded that Continental must take down the wireless service in its lounge, citing possible interference with other wireless services that might lead to safety concerns, and offering to make such services available over the airport's system for a fee. In response, Continental has asked the FCC to determine whether the airport authority's demands are permissible under the FCC's rules for Over-The-Air Reception Devices (OTARD), which prohibit certain types of restrictions that would impair the use of antennas used to receive and transmit wireless signals.
The crux of Continental's argument appears to be that the real motivation for the airport authority's complaint is loss of revenue, and that the OTARD rules preempt any provision in its lease that might permit the airport authority to restrict its use of wi-fi. For its part, the airport authority contends that exceptions to the OTARD rules involving the use of central antenna system such as that used by the airport would apply. The FCC has called for comments on Continental's petition.
The dispute has potentially broad implications for independent provision of wi-fi services within areas controlled by a central authority.
Articles on the dispute here and here.
Posted by Lance Koonce