According to Reuters report, the goal of FCC is exploring ways to bring free broadband to all Americans.

The father of the plan is FCC Chairman Kevin Martin. He proposes to auction an unused piece of 25 megahertz wireless spectrum. The winning bidder would be allowed to use the spectrum as they see fit, provided that access is free. Winning bidder must keep the network free of pornography.

FCC spokesman Rob Kenny said: “We’re hoping there will be increased interest in the proposal; and because this will provide wireless broadband services to more Americans, it is certainly something we want to see,”

“Too rigid” is the term for free access requirement – which use CTIA, a trade group for U.S. wireless carriers, which balked at the proposal.

FCC presided over a similar auction for wireless spectrum in the 700 MHz range earlier this year. That process proved a difficult fight between traditional telecoms and Google. While Verizon Wireless won the bulk of the spectrum, many believe it was Google that won the war.

In the present auction there is no company which emerged as a potential bidder. The winning bidder also would have to build out the system to serve 50 percent of the U.S. population within four years and 95 percent within 10 years. It would have provided FREE service, generating revenue partly through advertising.

Link: Reuters

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