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FCC says yes to free Wi-Fi

Lisa Napoli Nov 2, 2006
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FCC says yes to free Wi-Fi

Lisa Napoli Nov 2, 2006
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TEXT OF STORY

SCOTT JAGOW: Yesterday, we got an important ruling on the future of wireless Internet. The FCC said Boston’s airport can’t force Continental Airlines to shut down free Wi-Fi service in its lounge. Lisa Napoli tells us why this could be a far-reaching decision.


LISA NAPOLI: The Massachusetts Port Authority told airlines last year they had to shut down any Wi-Fi service they were offering waiting passengers at Logan Airport.

MassPort didn’t want any competition with its new service, which costs $8 a day.

Now, the FCC is saying they can’t do that.

And Harold Feld of the Media Access Group says the ruling is good news for Wi-Fi users everywhere.

HAROLD FELD:“This is an important decision because the principle at stake here is whether a landlord can control the wireless equipment that a tenant uses.”

And Glenn Fleishman of Wi-Fi Networking News says that means . . .

GLENN FLEISHMAN:“A landlord of a mall, a mall owner, can’t simply say to its tenants you can’t use Wi-Fi on the premises.”

Experts say the ruling will be particularly critical as more cities install municipal Wi-Fi networks.

In Los Angeles, I’m Lisa Napoli for Marketplace.

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