Google will probably move ahead with its plan to participate in the FCC's upcoming wireless spectrum auction, according to a Reuters report. Google CEO Eric Schmidt told a conference of regulatory and industry leaders in Aspen, Colo. that the company would "probably move ahead" with its plans to bid on the wireless spectrum.

Earlier this year, Google ruffled feathers in the telecommunications industry by promising to bid $4.6 billion on the spectrum if the FCC would agree to certain conditions.

A few weeks ago, the FCC adopted two of Google's four proposed rules, but balked at requiring the winning bidder to sell spectrum to competitors on a wholesale basis.

Many have speculated on what Google would do with the spectrum, with some seeing the bid as a move to gain leverage on the carriers as the search giant looks to monetize the mobile space. Others have gone so far as to speculate that Google could be interested in ultimately bringing free ad-supported wireless to the world.

The auction is set to take place early in 2008, with the spectrum becoming available in 2009.