This December, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to draw up a plan for auctioning public airwaves, which is set to stipulate that the winning bidder save some of the airwaves for free Internet across the nation.

The plan to open up the white spaces spectrum for unlicensed use was put forward by FCC chairman Kevin Martin, who is to step down from his position when a new administration takes over the White House in January 2009. The meeting to be held in order to consider the auction plan will probably take place on December 18.

Nevertheless, there are some roadblocks in the FCC’s way to put the airwaves up for bidding, since many have opposed the idea of opening them up from the very beginning.

Now, the cell phone industry claims that free Internet nationwide is a project that most companies are reluctant to take up, given that it would be a non-profit business section.

In addition, free speech advocates are opposing the Commission’s plan, because it entails that the winning bidder ban pornographic and offensive Web content.

Furthermore, the current global economic crisis raises major concerns with regards to whether investors would be willing to create the necessary infrastructure for the free Internet access under these conditions.

Another issue, which arose from the moment the plan was brought forth by Kevin Martin, focused on the white spaces spectrum interfering with the adjacent spectrum, thus causing reception problems to cell phone companies or television networks and broadcasters.

Even though at that time, FCC engineers performed research and conducted tests that showed opening up the airwaves would not interfere with other airwaves as much as to give rise to the aforementioned issues, opponents have yet to be convinced.