FCC Asked to Probe Auction

FCC ASKED TO PROBE AUCTION
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Spencer S. Hsu and Cecilia Kang]
The failure of a Federal Communications Commission auction to draw sufficient bids to build a wireless network for emergency responders provoked sharp criticism by members of Congress, consumer groups and leaders of the 9/11 Commission yesterday. It also prompted a call to investigate whether auction rules were broken. Nine organizations, including the Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union, wrote to FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin, saying the FCC should "investigate carefully the allegations" that representatives of the nation's police, fire and emergency officials undermined the auction. They cited reports that public-safety representatives demanded that any winner of the auction make additional payments to them. Chairman Martin yesterday said that the FCC could vote within days to re-bid the public safety airwaves. Martin also said he asked the FCC inspector general to investigate complaints. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Dingell (D-MI) and telecommunications subcommittee chairman Edward J. Markey (D-MA) prepared to hold hearings early next month and will consider whether the public-private partnership model for building the wireless network for emergency responders should be changed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/19/AR200803...
(requires registration)