As a Boingo (or WayPort or any other commercial service) subscriber, what are my rights concerning using WiFi in hotel lobbies, cafes, restaurants, etc.?
I've received conflicting answers from Boingo's tech people. One said that I had the right to enter and use WiFi in their locations, and they could only kick me out if I causes a disturbance, etc. Another said some locations have the right to exclude non-guests, non-customers, etc. I asked a "Tier Two supervisor" at WayPort about this, and he agreed with the latter. He also didn't think it was reasonable to require Boingo/WayPort to include a note in their directories indicating whether the people at a given location are [not nice]. For instance, the Anabelle Hotel and the Safari Inn in Burbank are both listed in Boingo's directory (they're owned by the same company too). The last time I went to the Anabelle Hotel I was told that only guests could use their wireless. I wasn't explicitly asked to leave, although that was the subtext. If I'm told I can't use Anabelle's WiFi, and I use it anyway from out on the public sidewalk, what is my legal status? Am I violating their network, or, as a Boingo subscriber do I have every right to use their network? When I go to another place, am I a "customer?" Do I have a right to sit down in a cafe and use their Boingo signal? Can I plug into their electric outlet? Can I get my parking validated? Can a location require that I buy something? And, should commercial services clearly state that some locations have restrictions? Should they include those restrictions in their directories? It shouldn't be that technically difficult; just provide each location with a web page in which they can update their information. One text box would be for restrictions on use.
