FCC chairman Kevin Martin is delaying the vote on his proposal that would see an unused chunk of 25 megahertz wireless spectrum put up for auction under the condition that the winner offer free internet access and filter out pornographic content on part of airwaves, reports Reuters.

Martin had scheduled in his proposal for consideration at the commission’s next meeting on June 12, but said on Thursday he was taking it off the agenda to give the commission more time to look into concerns raised by carriers.

However, The delay doesn’t mean that Martin has given up on the idea of free internet, which he called a “critical goal,” and one he was “still anxious” for the commission to do. 

He added that the commission could look at the proposal in July, which would still be in time for the August deadline for approving auction rules. If that happens, an auction could be held as early as the end of 2009.

Martin has proposed that the winning bidder use the spectrum for providing free internet access to at least half of the country’s population within 4 years, and 95 percent within 10 years. Some providers worried that the use of the 25 megahertz airwaves would lead to interference with spectrum sold off in a 2006 FCC auction. Martin, however, dismissed this idea.

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