Task force backs off controversial spectrum-management proposals. (News).

WASHINGTON -- A task-force report on spectrum policy delivered to the Federal Communications Commission orally seemed to downplay more controversial aspects of spectrum reform, perhaps because those areas had received so much attention.

In fact, FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy told a gathering on Friday there had been a lot of misinformation surrounding what the agency is trying to accomplish with its spectrum policy report, which was presented to the commission on Thursday.

"It was very interesting as we were preparing to hear from the task force, all of the misinformation that was out there and all of the panic that was created by the idea that we were going to start looking at how we manage the spectrum. I think that the goal is probably endorsed by everyone in this room, and the devil is in the details," said Abernathy.

The written report is expected to be released shortly, hopefully as early as this week, said Peter Tenhula, co-director of the task force.

Some of the panic may have been spurred by a recent speech …