wi-fi in airports question

[mkabrisky]

Hey guys,
I have an interesting question. An airport has already wi-fi with Boingo. However, i know a person who leases a deli restaurant near one of the terminals. He told me that i can go ahead and setup wireless internet at his deli since he will get DSL soon. Is this ok or should i talk to airport management? I talked to some other friends of mine and they said it was fine as long as i don't break FCC rules. Thus, i want the deli to be a hotspot of mine. I plan to use a cisco ap and router.

[jatkins679]

Originally posted by mkabrisky
Hey guys,
I have an interesting question. An airport has already wi-fi with Boingo. However, i know a person who leases a deli restaurant near one of the terminals. He told me that i can go ahead and setup wireless internet at his deli since he will get DSL soon. Is this ok or should i talk to airport management? I talked to some other friends of mine and they said it was fine as long as i don't break FCC rules. Thus, i want the deli to be a hotspot of mine. I plan to use a cisco ap and router.

You've left one vital piece of information out. You only say it's 'near one of the terminals'. Is it still in the airport/on airport property?

If it is, then you'd better tell the deli owner to talk to airport management first. He probably doesn't technically need their permission to do that. But he might be violating his lease if he does that.

If the deli isn't on airport properly, then no, you don't need their permission.

[mkabrisky]

It is in the airport before you have to walk pass the security baggage checkpoint before you head on to the terminals. It is where the gift shops, bookstores, etc. are located. You know, the usual look of many airports. The deli guy wants wi-fi internet access to attract more business customers to dine there, thus he will provide wi-fi for free.

[agent007]

It may very well violate his lease if you make that area hot. Most airports are very picky about RF, its technical implications, and most importantly how it affects their revenues. The airport in question probably is either considering or already in the process of selecting a single vendor for WiFi. When they get to the point of doing site surveys, your friend may get a knock on his door asking about the access point(s).

That being said, I believe that in most instances, its better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.

Good luck.

[Richard1]

The question would be moot if it was anywhere else but the airport. With today's environment and ever-tightening security I would definitely have the leasee(Deli Owner) get permission. OO7 is correct the deli owner could very well violate his lease or some FCC reg that we are unaware of. If Boingo can do it, I see no reason why you can't. That's just my opinion. Please let us know what the outcome is. I'd be interested to know what the precedent is.

[jatkins679]

Originally posted by mkabrisky
It is in the airport...

Better let the deli guy figure out the what's what with his lease and the airport administration first. Chances are that the airport's lawyers who wrote up his lease didn't earn their keep and didn't write anything into it about such an endeavor on his part.

But still, I would strongly suggest that you get your deli friend to check it out first. Airports and public safety use lots and lots of radios of different frequencies. While the 2.4gHz ISM band is technically free for use without a license, the airport might also have very strict rules of their own about intentional RF radiators. While your friend might have every right to use his RF radiator there, they also might have every right to terminate his lease. Additionally, the FAA might have their own rules regarding intentional RF radiators in airports.

When it comes to nickel-and-diming customers to death, airports are the greatest. I doubt they'll stand around and shrug their shoulders while your friend decides to siphon off the paying customers of one of their vendors just to attract business to his place.

I disagree with the notion that it's better to 'ask for forgiveness than ask for permission'. That's an unprofessional way of doing business and one that will garner a lot less cooperation than if you ask first. Beyond that, if they don't want it, it's not going to happen. Better to find out now instead after laying out the cash and time.

[agent007]

Boingo doesn't do WiFi in airports. Wayport, Concourse, T-Mobile and the like negotiate the contracts and do the installs. Boingo just bundles them all together so that if you have Wayport in San Jose airport, you don't have to also buy a subscription to another WISP when you get to Orlando.

As far as begging for forgiveness rather than asking for permission, if you're tenants location is on the outside of secured checkpoints, its not likely to interfere with the resident WiFi installation, as the vast majority are in gate areas (where the frustrated passengers wait so long for their flights that they would gladly pay $1000 for WiFi just to have something to do) . Its not a matter of violating any FAA rules pertaining to 2.4GHz, they have no problem with it. Its just that you will probably pull your hair out trying to get the right people that can understand what WiFi is and what you want to do. I agree that its not the best way to do business, but it becomes a business decision.....do I age gracefully while my request goes thrugh airport channels or do I put it up with the knowledge that they may ask me to remove it?????

Your call.....

[mkabrisky]

Hey guys,
Thanks for your comments. I'll let the Deli owner know your comments. He can decide for himself if he wants to go ahead and tell airport management or not. All he wanted was to give his patrons something to do while they eat there. He would post the free Wireless Internet sign in front of the deli. I was going to help him setup the wireless ap.

Mike

[jatkins679]

Originally posted by mkabrisky
Thanks for your comments. I'll let the Deli owner know your comments. He can decide for himself if he wants to go ahead and tell airport management or not. All he wanted was to give his patrons something to do while they eat there. He would post the free Wireless Internet sign in front of the deli. I was going to help him setup the wireless ap.

Good luck with that. I hope it works out ok for everyone.