Lawmakers Ask FCC's Martin To Hold Off On Cable, Wireless Votes

Under Fire Again

Sen. JOHN ROCKEFELLER (D-WV) and Rep. HENRY WAXMAN (D-CA) have sent a letter to FCC Chairman KEVIN MARTIN asking him not to act on policy decisions regarding cable television and universal filtered wireless Internet before the digital TV transition is complete.

MARTIN had set votes on the issues for the DECEMBER 18 FCC open meeting, but the two senior Democrats want the matters tabled until after BARACK OBAMA takes office and MARTIN steps down from the agency's Chair. MARTIN has been criticized by both the BUSH administration and consumer groups for setting the provision of wireless Internet as a prerequisite in the auction of a slice of spectrum, a proposal that some critics say is designed to benefit one company in particular, M2Z NETWORKS and others object to on the basis that the spectrum will be subject to content regulation.

And late FRIDAY, the Commission announced the cancellation of the DECEMBER 18 meeting.

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