The first US presidential debate is today, and you can watch it for free. But for journalists piling into Hofstra University, the price of doing business has gotten steeper.
Image: AP Photo/David Goldman
Dear god. @RyanBeckler just sent me this from Hofstra. They’re charging $200 for media WiFi access. pic.twitter.com/VSagT6ZerF
— (((Steph Haberman))) (@StephLauren) September 26, 2016
As per Hofstra’s media rate sheet, a simple Wi-Fi connection for press will cost $US200 ($262). Word first got out when two journalists from Vocativ noticed this seemingly ridiculous fee. Want a phone line and a (presumably) faster ethernet connection? $US600 ($785). How about connecting an unlimited number of wireless devices? That will be $US3500 ($4582) thank you very much, and please remember to make those checks out to Hofstra.
Of course, this is largely business as usual for debates, although services and rentals have gotten more expensive since Hofstra hosted the 2012 debates. Some media outlets have bigger needs and cash to burn, so shelling out for furniture rentals, expensive internet or just a $US75 ($98) chair to sit in comes with the territory. But for any small-time bloggers looking to save a couple of bucks, Slate writer Jim Newell broke some sad news.
There was just an announcement in the debate filing center that personal wifi dongles are prohibited, instead you must buy their $200 wifi
— Jim Newell (@jim_newell) September 26, 2016
Newell added that Hofstra’s enforcement of the no-dongle policy is uncertain, and it may in fact be illegal. A little over a year ago the FCC determined that companies blocking Wi-Fi hotspots is “patently unlawful” if it forces people to pay astronomical fees to access the internet.
We’ve reached out repeatedly to Hofstra and the Commission on Presidential Debates and will update if we hear back.
A tweet from Politico’s Kenneth Vogel claims the press area is being searched for Wi-Fi hotspots using these nearly $US2000 ($2618) devices. (Presumably at least a dozen of them, based on the “aircheck 12” sticker?) Those poor dongles never stood a chance.
Vogel told Gizmodo in an email the Wi-Fi testers are being employed by CPD and that, “if people refuse to turn off their hot-spots, CPD representatives will be summoned to explain that, if they don’t comply, their credentials will be revoked,” according to a CPD technician he spoke to. He added that he’s unsure how the $US200 ($262) paid Wi-Fi service is being limited to five devices per purchase, though some are speculating that it could be related to whitelisting specific MAC addresses.
Technicians patrolling #debatenight press file using this device to detect & shut down hotspots, so they can sell $200 wifi accounts instead pic.twitter.com/JzbkzlZR1g
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) September 26, 2016
Even with this limitation, it would appear that this very expensive Wi-Fi was not equipped to handle the network load. Who would have thought.
Aaaaaaaaand the $200 Wi-Fi Hofstra forced the reporters to buy at the #debate? It’s down.
— emily (((dreyfuss))) (@EmilyDreyfuss) September 26, 2016