WHITE HOUSE STAGGERS MARTIN'S FREE WIRELESS BROADBAND PLANS

摘要

M2Z's proposal for a free national broadband network seems to be foundering amid White House political concerns, FCC and industry sources said. The proposal unsettled Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, who wrote of his concerns and met its most powerful supporter, Commission Chairman Martin, at the White House. Martin was defended at the meeting by presidential assistant Keith Hennessey. But President Bush's Chief of Staff Josh Bolton had problems with the plan. "I'm hearing it's on the ropes, certainly," said a wireless industry lawyer with Republican connections. Bolton "finally focused on it and pressured Martin to back down," the lawyer said. "But I think it's still a moving story." Pivotal House Republicans Joe Barton of Texas and Cliff Stearns of Florida oppose the plan. nnCommission sources said Martin hadn't signaled to others on the eighth floor before a news conference Friday that the advanced wireless service 3 and 700 MHz D-block auctions were unlikely this year. "It's not a good sign" for the free broadband proposal, a commission source said. "The White House could have derailed it, or he could have just tried to buy himself more time to think it through." The free broadband proposal has had a rocky ride. In September, the FCC rejected an M2Z petition for forbearance seeking 20 MHz of 2.1 GHz spectrum, without an FCC auction, to build a network offering both free and premium service. In May, Martin circulated proposed rules for an AWS 3 auction, including a free broadband condition. Wireless carriers, equipment makers and others objected, so Martin pulled the order and instead sought comment.