Two days ago, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a report stating that the use of empty airwaves in order to provide no-cost wireless Internet was unlikely to interfere with other services. Consequently, the airwaves might come to be sold at a federal auction, as FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin has proposed.

The latter stated the spectrum would enable people who have low income to have access to the Web, via the free broadband tool.

Last month, several tests were conducted by FCC engineers, in an attempt to determine the level of static between the aforementioned service and current wireless Internet providers.

Results showed that major problems could be easily avoided through technical protection measures.

The research done by the FCC was prompted by opposition and criticism coming from wireless carriers such as T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and AT&T, three of the United States' leading wireless telecommunications networks.

T-Mobile has been the most fervent of all, since the company uses adjoining to the spectrum’s ones airwaves for their wireless service.

Kevin Martin informed that the service would feature filters aimed at blocking inappropriate for children content, which the adults would be able to easily get past. Furthermore, the FCC’s plan is to reach approximately 50% of the nation’s population within four years’ time, the percentage being expected to rise to 95 after ten years, he added.

It has been estimated that a complete set of rules would be finalized by the end of this year, the auction being scheduled to begin in mid 2009.