It took Google to Bring Free WiFi to Boston's Logan Airport



I never thought I'd see the day when Logan Airport provided free WiFi, but it's here.

In addition to providing free WiFi on every Virgin America flight between now and January 15, 2010, Google is bringing free WiFi to Boston's Logan International Airport and 47 others.

Wow!

More info here, Free WiFi for the Holidays.

I'd like to know what infrastructure they are using, the existing, or did they bring their own.

This previous article, Continenal trying to install free WiFi at Logan, explains complications from 2005:

Boston's Logan International Airport wants Continental Airlines to take down an antenna it uses to provide free Wi-Fi access in the airline's frequent flier lounge. Safety, the airport claims, is the issue.

Try rank greed, says Continental.

The airline claims the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), which runs Logan, told Continental it could install Wi-Fi access in its private lounge as long as it made arrangements to route the wireless signal, for a fee, over Logan's existing Wi-Fi backbone.

The only problem with that arrangement, Continental states in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is that Logan's fee for using the airport's Wi-Fi backbone signal exceeds the costs of Continental building and maintaining its own wireless antenna.

But the FCC came through back then, FCC rules to reinstate free WiFi at Boston-Logan International Airport:

...the (FCC) Commission's commissioner insinuated that open internet access was meant to be free and readily available to travelers "who can make productive use of their time while waiting to catch their next flight.

Free the WiFi at Logan!

Update:

Boston Logan Airport adds some information via twitter:




posted by Steve at 6:30 AM | link | (2) Join the Discussion

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