The Federal Communications Commission chairman has dropped plans to impose a pornography filter on a free national wireless Internet system. Kevin Martin says he made the change to satisfy both pressure groups and his fellow commissioners.

The proposed plan involves auctions for broadcast frequencies which will be freed up when TV stations switch to an all-digital format in February. The original plan would require the winning bidder for one frequency range to provide a free basic wireless internet service across the country, making its money by charging for faster speeds.

The original plan required the winner to install a filter on the free service, blocking content such as pornography which was unsuitable for children. This wouldn’t be a user-controlled filter; it would be a complete block across the free network.

That suggestion prompted criticism, including claims that it discriminated against porn firms that offered legal content, and that the auction winner was effectively able to directly profit from people paying up for a porn-filled edition of the Internet. To some that brings the links between government revenues and porn uncomfortably close.

Martin now tells Arstechnica that “A lot of public interest advocates have said they would support this, but we’re concerned about the filter. Well, now there’s an item in front of the Commissioners and it no longer has the filter.”

However, at the moment it appears Martin is the only member of the five-strong commission who is committed to voting for the proposal. He had hoped to discuss the issue at an FCC meeting earlier this month, but the commission cancelled the meeting after Congress asked it to put the auction plans on hold and concentrate on the TV switchover.

Martin says the delay could help his case as any vote will now come after the departure of commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, a strong supporter of the porn filter. However, Martin himself is now pressed for time to get the commission to back the plans before Barack Obama takes office, at which point Martin may well lose his post.

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Entry was posted on Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 at 12:59 pm under Adult content, Internet, Politics, Wi-Fi.

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