macnn/electronista

06/06/2008, 1:15pm, EDT

Friday, June 6th

FCC delays plans for free broadband vote

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.


Filed under: industry, networking
Other story tags: FCC

, , 3comments, del.icio.us, slashdot, digg, buzz
3 comments
Reader Reactions (Please use <i></i> for italic text)

subscribe to comments
for this article




Expand All   Global Settings

GAH! NOT 25MHz FREQ!

0
06/06, 3:11pm, EDT

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

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Apr 1999
User is offline

no porn?

0
06/06, 4:27pm, EDT

fuh-gedd-abowd-it.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jan 2007
User is offline

and...

0
06/06, 5:03pm, EDT

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).

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Aug 2001
User is offline
Your Comments

In order to post comments: If you are a registered member, please login with your MacNN Forums username and password otherwise please uncheck the checkbox below.


Registered Member?
macnn forums login:

macnn forums password:

Not a member of the MacNN forums? Register now for free.

Check Out the VIERA from Panasonic!: Enter a New Visual Era with Panasonic VIERA HDTVs. An Enhanced Experience.

Get an IT Degree Online: Get solid credentials. Take your hobby to the next level. Adult Programs. Affordable.

Buy from The Apple Store, iTunes.com, Amazon.com, TechDepot, OfficeDepot, Computers4Sure, or donate.