Friday, Jun 6, 2008    Text size: 

WASHINGTON — Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin postponed his proposal to auction off an unused piece of wireless spectrum, with the condition that whoever wins the bid offer free broadband Internet access and filter out pornography on a portion of the airwaves.

According to Reuters, the chairman said he would delay the proposal’s vote in order to allow the FCC's other four commissioners enough time to look into the plan and concerns raised by some wireless carriers.

"I am happy to end up giving people a little more time to consider this," Martin said.

Some wireless service providers have voiced concern that use of the airwaves would interfere with wireless spectrum that they acquired in another FCC auction in 2006, Reuters said.

Wireless service providers told the FCC the rules governing the new auction should include additional measures to guard against interference. The FCC chairman added that he was still committed to the free-broadband concept. "I think that's a critical goal. I'm still anxious for the commission to do it," Martin said.

Martin said the agency could still take up the proposal next month and meet an August timeline for approving the auction rules.