WASHINGTON, DC — Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin’s plan to provide free high-speed internet access that blocks “offensive” content has drawn fire from free-speech advocates and wireless service providers who fear censorship and signal interference.Originally scheduled for a vote during the FCC’s June 12th meeting, the proposed wireless spectrum auction has been tabled for further consideration. Martin told the Associated Press on Thursday he remains committed to the plan and hopes to present the matter during the commission’s July meeting.
Under Martin’s proposal, which surfaced in late May, the FCC would auction 25 megahertz of the wireless spectrum to a single bidder that would be required to build out within four years a nationwide network capable of serving 50-percent of the U.S. population. Within 10 years, the network would need to be able to serve 95-percent of the population. In addition, the winning bidder would be required to dedicate about 25-percent of the network to free broadband service that filters out at the source content that is unsuitable for children.
On Thursday Martin told the AP some wireless companies whose frequencies are near the ones proposed for auctioning have expressed concern about signal bleed-over or interference. In addition, some have expressed concern that filtering content may make them targets for free-speech organizations that may consider the filtering unwarranted censorship.
Martin also indicated to the AP that he would consider allowing verified adults to opt out of the filtering.
If the plan makes it onto the FCC’s July agenda and is approved, the auction could take place by the end of the year.
