A free wireless Internet proposal by the Federal Communications Commission has been put on hold. According to Reuters, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said Thursday that he would delay a vote on his proposal to auction a 25-MHz spectrum with the specific condition that the winner provide free Internet access. Martin said he wanted more time to investigate concerns by wireless carriers that there could be interference with frequencies already in use.

‘Critical Goal’

Martin has said he didn’t believe there was a problem with interference, and that the new auction would provide the same protections against interference as previous auctions.

“I am happy to end up giving people a little more time to consider this,” he told Reuters, although he added that he still thinks it’s a “critical goal” and he’s “still anxious for the commission to do it.” He has also told other news media that he is committed to providing a lifeline broadband service.

The proposal had been scheduled to be discussed at the next FCC meeting on June 12. It could still be taken up at the FCC’s meeting in July, which would allow the agency to approve auction rules before an August deadline. If the FCC approves no later than August, the auction could take place before the end of the year.

If Martin’s proposal is adopted, the auction winner would be required to provide free wireless Internet to half the U.S. population within four years and to 95 percent within 10 years. It would not be the same Internet that is otherwise available, as the FCC proposal also requires that the winner filter out pornographic content. However, Martin has said he would support a plan that would allow adults to use an unfiltered service.

While some groups have protested the availability of an unfiltered Internet, others have protested the filtering as…