Dingell said it is important that the government provide the necessary support to spur broadband use but not inhibit innovation. All people should have access to broadband regardless of physical location and income, he added.

"We need to make sure the system is working as it should," Dingell said.

Congress should not care if broadband services are provided by the cable or telephone industries, but lawmakers instead should craft rules that are fair and consistent, he said. The committee will be focused on spurring innovation, investment and competition, Dingell added.

Dingell also discussed the transition from analog to digital television, the completion of which Congress has mandated by Feb. 17, 2009. "We are hopeful that date will be met," and that the Bush administration and government agencies take the necessary steps to meet that date, he said.

At deadline, the FCC had postponed a planned public meeting at which it was supposed to outline the rules for the auction of the analog spectrum that broadcasters will return during the digital transition. The FCC is expected to outline how the upcoming spectrum auction will work, how the spectrum will be divided and what services can be offered using the airwaves.

Dingell said his committee will be observing spectrum allocation issues and said the rulemaking must be fair. He said the FCC has had a hard time conforming to Congress' intent, is not always transparent and fair with less than perfect regulation, and can be defensive.

An auction should maximize competition, and the public should get the best return on its investment, Dingell added. The size of the allocations in particular parts of the spectrum should be sold in small amounts to encourage greater competition, he said.