As of February 17, 2009, all television signals are now digital. Due to this transition, broadcasters have transitioned from analog to digital, therefore creating additional “white spaces” that had previously housed many licensed and unlicensed products.
The Federal Communications Commission issued an order on September 23, 2010, declaring that these “white spaces” will be used for unlicensed fixed and mobile devices and services. This ruling ended a long debate and years of work by numerous technology communities, but primarily affecting the wireless microphone community – the manufacturers, dealers and customers. This issue will protect wireless microphone users from interference from other “white space devices.”
Two channels nationwide have been ordered specifically for wireless microphone use; UHF Band Devices are not permitted to access these channels. Large-scale users would be able to achieve extended protection for specific events through the geo-location database prescribed by the FCC in 2008.
For more information on White Spaces issues, please review:
Wireless Microphone Licensing
NSCA and Shure, Inc. collected and submitted integrator opinions and comments regarding the Federal Communication Commission's proposal to revise wireless microphone license eligibility.
The deadline for these comments was March 1, 2010. No decisions have been made since then.
After nearly 35 years, the Federal Communications Commission is considering expanding its licensing rules for wireless microphones, in-ear monitors, production intercom systems, and similar equipment that operates in the television broadcast (VHF and UHF) band.
Until now, only broadcasters, motion picture and television program producers, and similar entities were eligible for licenses. The FCC is aware that wireless microphones are used today by musical performers, houses of worship, theaters, schools, businesses and many other types of entities.
The FCC permits wireless microphone operation either with or without a license. However, in the near future, licensed users may be afforded greater protection against interference from future consumer wireless TV Band Devices (both fixed and portable) that will operate in the same spectrum as wireless microphones.
The FCC sought comments from wireless users to determine who should be eligible for a wireless microphone license. Comments submitted included the use of wireless systems and how the productions and businesses would be affected by interference from new TV Band Devices.
Click here for quick tips on registration and licensing wireless microphones.
700 MHz Bandwidth
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a deadline of June 12, 2010, for the cease of operations of all wireless microphones within the 700 MHz band.
The FCC seeks to prevent unlawful interference with public safety entities and commercial users that operate on the 700 MHz band following completion of the Digital Television transition last June and to prevent your customers from receiving interference while using their microphones.
If a microphone does not operate on frequencies within the 700 MHz band, no action is required. Wireless microphones currently operate in a variety of different frequency bands, including many frequencies outside of the 700 MHz band. Only those wireless microphones using the 700 MHz band must cease operating. Some wireless microphones that operate in the 700 MHz band can be successfully retuned to operate in frequencies other than 700 MHz. If the wireless microphone operates only in the 700 MHz frequency band, it will need to be replaced.
Learn more:
- FCC’s website dedicated exclusively to providing consumers with important information on 700 MHz wireless microphones
- Consumer information, including Frequently Asked Questions, the “Consumer Fact Sheet,” the “Consumer Advisory,” and the FCC’s wireless microphonespress release
- Table to determine whether your wireless microphones need to be replaced or retuned
The FCC recommends contacting your wireless microphone’s manufacturer with any technical questions. Links to many manufacturers can be found on the same site. - The FCC decision
For more information, contact the FCC Consumer Hotline at 1-888-CALL-FCC.
FCC Rulings
FCC Adopts Rules for Unlicensed Use of Television White Spaces
In its continuing efforts to promote efficient use of spectrum and to extend the benefits of such use to the public, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today adopted a Second Report and Order (Second R&O) that establishes rules to allow new, sophisticated wireless devices to operate in broadcast television spectrum on a secondary basis at locations where that spectrum is open. (This unused TV spectrum is now commonly referred to as television “white spaces”). The rules adopted today will allow for the use of these new and innovative types of unlicensed devices in the unused spectrum to provide broadband data and other services for consumers and businesses. Read more.
Protection of Wireless Microphone Frequencies
The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recent activity regarding wireless microphones and the future of television band RF spectrum has led to a call to action for those working in wireless microphones.
The “White Spaces” Docket 04-186 has touched on several subjects important to the commercial electronic systems industry, specifically wireless microphone manufacturers, and has now expanded to the installers and end-users of these products and services.
In the summer of 2008, the FCC requested comments from the public on three important matters:
- A proposed ruling that called for wireless microphones to evacuate the partially auctioned, yet highly used, 700 MHz band by February 2009 – the same deadline as the digital television conversion;
- The licensure of wireless microphones under rules written in 1977, which are not under interference protection, and;
- The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology field and lab tests on interference mitigation technology designed for deployment in future “white space” devices (including PDAs, cell phones etc.).
NSCA Official Comments
NSCA Files Comments for Protection of Wireless Microphone Audio Systems
NSCA members are dedicated to providing the best experience possible for their customers, whether it be in manufacturing a high-quality, low-voltage electronics device or designing and implementing a complex audio/video solution for a large conference or production. For this reason, NSCA, along with industry partners, has submitted comments regarding various proposals before the FCC on removing protections for wireless microphone audio systems. Many of these proposals would allow new electronic devices into the VHF/UHF frequencies commonly used by wireless systems today, therefore causing interference and interruption in NSCA members’ customers services.
Read the comments submitted by NSCA.
Unlicensed Operation in the TV Broadcast Bands