FCC Sets Airline Wireless Auction Date

The FCC said Thursday that it had set May 10 as the date it would begin to sell airwaves that communications providers could use to provide advanced services to airline passengers. The frequencies would come from the phones in the back of airline seats, currently operated by Verizon. The airline industry says cheaper on-board telephones could result from the auction, or other wireless services could make use of the bandwidth.

Verizon plans to bid for the frequencies in the auction, which it says would take approximately one year to convert for use in wireless broadband. Other carriers, such as Cingular, have not commented whether they plan to bid. Also being considered by the FCC are plans to allow wireless phone use on planes. However, FAA approval would also be needed, and the agency has remained against such a change in policy.