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Why Wi-Fi competition is good for Logan, and for Boston

By now, some of you know that after a 17-month battle, the Federal Communications Commission decided last week to let Continental Airlines provide Wi-Fi service at its Presidents Club facility at Boston's Logan International Airport. That's a peek at the Presidents Club.
Written by Russell Shaw, Contributor
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By now, some of you know that after a 17-month battle, the Federal Communications Commission decided last week to let Continental Airlines provide Wi-Fi service at its Presidents Club facility at Boston's Logan International Airport. That's a peek at the Presidents Club.

 

Massport, which runs Logan, had claimed the service violated Continental's contract with Logan, which charges $7.95 a day for their Wi-Fi offering.

I'm happy with the ruling for several reasons:

Wi-Fi reception sometimes don't work well in enclosed airport areas, exemplified by lounges such as the President's Club

Airport VIP/Frequent Flyer facilities already pay rent and service fees to the host airport. So why shouldn't they have the right to offer Wi-Fi as well? 

Competition is good. I don't like monopolies.

That reason feeds my fourth perspective. Even though I have no reason not to believe Massport is not on the up-and-up- well, put it this way. Ask 100 Bostonians (I'm not from there but I go there for business) if they think the inefficiencies of the Big Dig project are in any way caused by maybe not everyone involved with the giant undertaking being on the up and up.

Yes, I know, we're talking about the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, not Massport, but if I was a Bostonian, I'd like to feel all that much more confident about the ethics of all public agencies in my city.

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