Federal Communications Commission

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is dropping a requirement that the provider of a proposed free Internet network block adult content from the service. Martin's plan calls for the FCC to sell 25 megahertz of airwaves and then require the buyer to use a quarter of that spectrum to provide free wireless Internet access. Originally, he wanted the winning bidder to install filters that would block children under 18 from accessing pornography.

Universal Internet access sounds great. But not the way the head of the Federal Communications Commission envisions it. FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin is proposing that free wireless Net access be made available to everyone as part of a sale of public airwaves. At the same time, he wants filters put in place so that no smut slips through to impressionable young Web surfers.

The Federal Communications Commission has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the indecency case over Janet Jackson's breast-baring "wardrobe malfunction" incident at the 2004 Super Bowl. The FCC this week appealed a ruling by the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia, saying that court was wrong to throw out the case and a $550,000 fine against CBS Corp. in July. The appellate court cited the FCC practice of not considering objectionable images indecent if they are "fleeting."

President-elect Barack Obama has pledged to create a Cabinet-level chief technology officer, signaling the priority he places on high-tech issues. But a more important decision may be Obama's choice to lead the Federal Communications Commission. Although the current chairman, Republican Kevin J. Martin, has made some smart choices, the FCC needs fresh ideas on how to encourage competition and promote broadband Internet access.

Federal regulators on Tuesday approved the largest ever expansion of wireless Internet access, unanimously backing a controversial plan to allow a new generation of devices to use the empty airwaves between television channels to go online. Dubbed "Wi-Fi on steroids" by its supporters in the high-tech industry, the plan promises to offer wireless Internet service across America -- most likely for free -- and spur new systems for transmitting video and other data between devices in homes.

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday proposed opening up unused portions of the television airwaves known as "white spaces" to deliver wireless broadband Internet service. The proposal by FCC chief Kevin J. Martin appeals to public interest groups and many of the nation's biggest technology companies, including Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp., which hope it will bring affordable high-speed Internet connections to more Americans.

Federal regulators issued a warning to all Internet service providers Friday with a sharp rebuke of Comcast Corp. for blocking some customers from using file-sharing technology. By a 3-2 vote, the Federal Communications Commission found that the cable company failed to tell its subscribers about the blocking, lied about it when confronted by the commission and tried to cripple online video sites that compete with its on-demand service.

The Federal Communications Commission will adopt rules barring Internet service providers such as Comcast Corp. from interfering with customers' ability to share videos and other online files. A majority of the five-member commission has agreed that the FCC can halt the practice, Chairman Kevin J. Martin said. The agency has scheduled an Aug. 1 public hearing for a vote. The agency also plans to censure Comcast for interfering with customers using peer-to-peer file-sharing services, according to two people with knowledge of the plans.

Federal regulators appeared poised Wednesday to give final approval to the merger of the nation's only two satellite radio operators, which would bring together the two struggling companies after a 17-month quest. Deborah Taylor Tate, a Republican who held the swing vote on the five-member Federal Communications Commission, reportedly was ready to vote in favor of the $3.9-billion merger if Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. agreed to new conditions.

The government will investigate a stealthy form of advertising in which products are featured on television shows as props and at times even woven into story lines. The Federal Communications Commission said it would consider rules to make it clear to viewers when brand-name products appear in shows in exchange for money. Spending on so-called "embedded advertising" has grown as advertisers look for new ways to reach viewers who flip channels during commercials or use digital video recorders such as TiVo to fast-forward past them.