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FCC delays plans for free broadband vote

updated 01:15 pm EDT, Fri June 6, 2008

FCC delays free broadband

The Federal Communications Commission is delaying a vote regarding the creation of free broadband services around the US, Reuters reports. FCC chairman Kevin Martin has proposed auctioning off a portion of the 25MHz wireless spectrum, on the condition that winners not only agree to offer a free broadband option, but filter out "obscene" content in the form of pornography. A vote on approving the auction was originally scheduled for June 12th, but no longer has a firm date.

Martin says that although he is "anxious" for the free broadband concept to be accepted, more time is needed for all the commissioners to properly scrutinize the proposal. Concerns are said to have been raised by wireless carriers, who argue that handing over the 25MHz spectrum may interfere with other frequencies acquired in 2006. Martin insists that safeguards used in previous auctions should ensure no problems with the new one.

The vote must now happen before an August deadline, but could take place as soon as July.

 
Previous Comments

GAH! NOT 25MHz FREQ!

06/06, 03:11pm reply

It's not at the 25MHz frequency, it's a 25MHz chunk of the 2.1GHz frequency. Get it right, MacNN!

WiseWeasel

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Joined: Apr 1999

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no p***?

06/06, 04:27pm reply

fuh-gedd-abowd-it.

Flying Meat

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Joined: Jan 2007

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and...

06/06, 05:03pm reply

I'm sure the FBI will have their hooks into all the traffic (I mean, it's free, you shouldn't expect privacy) to weed out the terrorists (you know, the stupid ones who haven't heard of encrypting emails and spoofing identities to avoid detection).

testudo

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Joined: Aug 2001

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