Hotel And Event Venue Wi-Fi: Yes! You Do Have Other Options!!
Get The Network Your Event Deserves
Meetings and events are becoming more and more dependent on a fast and reliable internet connection. Your management team needs it, your exhibitors rely on it, and your attendees expect it. Unfortunately the reality is your venue’s network wasn’t designed for your needs; it was designed to benefit the venue.
Background
The FCC regulates telecommunications. FCC rules make it illegal for building owners to sign exclusive agreements with telecommunications common carriers. Additionally, the FCC also prohibits the blocking of Wi-Fi Signals.
“No hotel, convention center, or other commercial establishment or the network operator providing services at such establishments may intentionally block or disrupt personal Wi-Fi hot spots on such premises, including as part of an effort to force consumers to purchase access to the property owner’s Wi-Fi network. Such action is illegal and violations could lead to the assessment of substantial monetary penalties.” 1
This is excellent information to know as you negotiate your event with the venue. Despite these laws, unlawful internet exclusivity agreements are pervasive in the event industry. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is in your corner!
But the In-House ISP works for me!
Unfortunately not. The in-house ISP works for the venue. While you are paying exorbitant fees for use of the network, the ISP is splitting your fees with the venue, which is one reason why the fees are so high. The primary objective of the in-house is not providing the best service to your event but rather ensuring they get their contract with the venue renewed. The network was designed to provide blanket coverage throughout the space allowing them to increase their revenues while limiting operating costs. This translates to older hardware, less reliability and more potential down time. Don’t let your event be another casualty of poor Wi-Fi and limited connectivity!
What are the keys to avoid working with the in-house, paying crazy fees, and having unreliable Wi-Fi for your event?
Be informed. You have read this brief whitepaper. There, you are now informed. Yay! Negotiate….early. Like before you sign your contract with the venue. When negotiating with the venue, focus on your needs for the event as opposed to the price the venue is asking you to pay. Highlight that the coverage or capacity provided by the venue does not meet the needs of your event. And then get the venue to sign off on your right to bring in an independent ISP. When the venue does permit you to bring in an independent ISP and provide your own Wi-Fi network, you can expect some other fees from the venue, such as closet access fees or a fee for the D-Mark connection. You can continue to negotiate these fees or receive some other concessions from the venue.
But DataPoint DOES work for you!
When you choose DataPoint as your internet partner you’ll get a network custom designed specifically for your event, in the space you need it. Our on-site network engineers are not only highly trained but also independently certified to work with the latest networking equipment and protocols.
Our network design team will put together a comprehensive plan for deploying your ideal network complete with a predictive site survey and on-site fine tuning backed up with event analytics and reporting. Once on-site, our engineers have all the tools needed to make sure that everything is up to par and help identify any sources of potential interference to provide the best wireless service possible.
To learn more about how DataPoint works for you, or to request a quote for your next event, give us a call today at 702.220.8888.
1 All operators, including of a Part 15 device, must comply with the Communications Act, including Section 333, and the Commission’s
rules.