FCC's Martin Drops Porn Filtering Idea

[Commentary] Even though Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is leaving in a matter of weeks, he still hopes to push through a major policy decision he's been backing for months: One that would create a nationwide free wireless broadband network for use by all. Until now, this ambitious proposal has met with resistance: from incumbent wireless service providers such as T-Mobile USA, worried the new network would cause interference to its users and from consumer advocacy groups, which have particularly objected to Martin's idea of filtering adult content available on this public network. On Dec. 29, Martin said that he has dropped his porn filtering idea in hopes of garnering more support for the open network proposal. But while the FCC is set to hold its final meeting on Jan. 15, days before Barack Obama is sworn into office, I would be surprised to see the open networks proposal passing then. The idea is still out of favor with telcos.