FCC: No Wireless Mics in 700-MHz Band

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LuckyStudio 13

The Tapeless One
FCC votes unanimously to prohibit use of wireless microphones, other devices in 700-megahertz band after DTV transition.

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/21/2008 4:56:00 PM

The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to prohibit the use of wireless microphones and other devices in the 700-megahertz band after the transition to digital.
FCC chairman Kevin Martin proposed the ban earlier this month.
The FCC also wants to prohibit the manufacture, sale, import or shipment of such devices that operate in the 700-MHz band.
The devices have been sharing the spectrum with broadcasters on those channels (52-69), but those channels are being reclaimed for advanced wireless uses by industry and first-responders after the Feb. 17, 2009, transition to DTV.
The FCC said the move affects 156 licenses, but only 30 are not also authorized to operate in other bands that will still be available after the transition, including some DTV-spectrum band.
Effective on release of the order, there will be a freeze on applications for any "low-power auxiliary station," which is the category that includes the wireless mikes, as well as equipment that synchronizes TV-camera signals.

The commission also sought comment on a proposal to authorize current unauthorized users in the 700 mHz band--many wireless mike users are not licensed, in violation of FCC rules--by alowing them to operator on channels below 52-69. It will also look into complaints about the marketing of those microphones.

Harold Feld of Media Access Project, which pushed the proposal and marketing investigation, said MAP was pleased the FCC had made a quick and definitive decision. "It shows that they are taking us seriously," he told B&C. "We certainly hope that this will be resolved before the DTV transition on Feb. 17, and hope the FCC adopts our road map on how to move forward, which protects members of the public, allows for opening the spectrum for all productive wireless devices and punishes only those who illegally marketed the devices in the first place."

David Donovan of the Association for Maximum Service Television has pointed out that the move will reduce the spectrum available for wireless mikes used by news reporters and newsrooms and would "appear to make it more difficult to place unlicensed devices on channels 21-51 since the demand for wireless-mike spectrum will increase on those channels."
The FCC is currently testing those unlicensed devices as it decides how and whether to allow them to share DTV spectrum.

Mark Brunner, Shure’s senior director, public and industry relations, for major mike manufacturer, responded.

“Shure plans to work closely with the FCC during this rulemaking process," he said in an e-mail to B&C. "In anticipation of changes in the 700 MHz band, Shure ceased manufacture, marketing and sale of all wireless microphone products in this frequency range, the last of which was discontinued in 2007," he said.

Source:
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6589511.html?display=Breaking+News&referral=SUPP&nid=2228


SO BE AWARE BEFORE YOU BUY THOSE WIRELESS MICS (ESPECIALLY FROM EBAY OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS)
 
This is good stuff for all of us working in sound to be aware of. Hopefully if you've been following the changes the FCC has been lining up for '09 and the 700MHz auctions then this should not come as a major surprise to you. As far as I know Lectro stopped making units in their block 27 and up last year and will only produce them on special order. I agree that "buyer beware" is a good attitude to have when buying used gear, but if you're looking to purchase something as expensive and technically specific as wireless mic equipment then I feel it's you're responsibility to know exactly what you need and what frequencies you plan to operate on and, as much as possible, have an idea of how that freq range may look in the future when dtv stations come online and go full power.
 
Lectro also stopped selling these in Nov 2007. However, for current owners they also posted these conclusions of the FCC ruling:

1. The sky is not falling (remember Y2K?). Wireless mics in the UHF band will not be rendered useless within the next few years. Existing and foreseeable-future wireless mics, particularly those made by Lectrosonics, will be fully operational for years to come. Yes – there may be some challenges but mostly it will be about learning and adapting to the new RF spectrum.

2. Although the FCC requires the 700MHz band to be "vacated' as of February 2009, it is unrealistic to expect that all users of low-powered devices (wireless mics) will stop using their current systems. It is very likely that most wireless mic users in this range will continue to operate illegaly for some time. Licensed, legal, part 74 users such as broadcast stations will have to cease operation in the 700 MHz band. Manufacturers of part 74 devices will have to cease manufacturing, importing, or even shipping units that operate in the 700 MHz band. Commercial development of this band will begin in the large metro areras first, then work its way out to the further reaches of the country, the same way that cellular coverage did in the 1990s.

3. Lectrosonics, will, as required by the FCC, cease manufacturing and selling blocks 27, 28 and 29 for the US market at the end of 2008.

4. No one currently knows what will happen in the 470 to 700 MHz range. If and when the consumer "white space devices" hit the market, the UHF band will be similar in terms of congestion to the way the 2.4 GHz band already is today. In other words, it will be workable with proper planning, good system components and good system design.
 
Greetings friends,

Hmm, I wonder if there's more to this "story"...

First off, we should be careful not to make legal or business decisions based solely upon what we read in the press. Sure, the press is well meaning but often only gives a synopsis for the general audience. So let's look further into the details before throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

FACT: According to the FCC Fact Sheet, auction #73 pertains to the following frequencies:

Block A: 12 MHz (698-704 / 728-734 MHz)
Block B: 12 MHz (704-710 / 734-740 MHz)
Block E: 6 MHz (722-728 MHz)
Block C: 22 MHz (746-757 / 776-787 MHz)
Block D: 10 MHz (758-763 / 788-793 MHz)

As we know, many wireless microphones operate in this frequency spectrum. However, upon closer inspection, the following frequencies are not part of the Block C frequency band:

711-721.975 MHz
741-745.975 MHz
764-775.975 MHz

This leaves 27 MHz of frequency spectrum space for existing users in the C Block domain.

Each wireless tranceivers occupies 25 KHz. Thus, for each MHz of open space, up to 40 channels are available for use. So with 27 MHz of available remaining spectrum, up to 27 x 40 channels will remain available (980 wireless transeiver channels).

For those of us with frequency agile transmitter/receivers that allow us to tune across the entire FCC C Band spectrum, after the new auction winners (Verizon, etc) begin transmitting, existing wireless microphones will remain functional and lawful on frequencies outside the FCC auction #73 spectrum allocation. Of course, as a practical matter, as always it is wise not to operate on frequencies immediately adjacent to an existing (powerful) transmitter to avoid interference. So conservatively in a busy metropolitan area, perhaps half of the remaining 980 channels are available for use.

Still, the just-released FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking order on page 10-11 states:

23. In light of our tentative conclusion above not to permit the operation of low power auxiliary stations on 700 MHz Band frequencies (698-806 MHz) following the end of the DTV transition, we also find that continuing to accept new license applications for low power auxiliary station licenses that involve the operation of such stations on this spectrum after February 17, 2009 would impair the objectives that we are proposing in this proceeding. In addition, we impose a freeze on granting any request for equipment authorizations of low power auxiliary station devices that would operate in any of the 700 MHz Band frequencies. Accordingly, we hereby suspend acceptance of license applications and equipment authorizations for low power auxiliary stations that seek to operate on 700 MHz Band frequencies after February 17, 2009. This suspension is effective immediately and until further notice and applies to applications received on or after the release date of this Notice.​


24. In addition, we will not process such pending license applications and equipment authorization requests if they would involve operation in the 700 MHz Band after the end of the DTV transition. Pending applications and equipment authorization requests will be held in abeyance until the conclusion of this proceeding, whereupon we will determine, in accordance with such new rules as are adopted, whether to process or return any such pending applications and equipment authorization requests. We note that entities with pending applications and equipment authorization requests to operate in spectrum that would include the 700 MHz Band are free to modify their applications and requests to exclude operation in this band, and these applications and requests could then proceed with being processed.



As a practical matter, I'm sure many wireless microphone owners will either not be aware of the FCC ruling or simply say "WTF" and continue using the entire C Band spectrum. I suspect that the new cellular carriers will employ collision avoidance mechanism (listen to a frequency before transmitting) and since wireless microphones always have their carrier wave tranmitting, once they turn on their gear the new cellular carriers will temporarily bypass that frequency (even though they have lawfully paid dearly for that frequency spectrum).​

It remains to be seen what FCC orders will be given for existing users with wireless microphone equipment when the new orders are in place. In a former life, I interfaced wth the FCC on behalf of my telecommunications company. Perhaps some of you have further information or would like to pursue this on our behalf.​

I welcome comments by others who have definitive information based on the actual FCC order and how it applies to us.​

Warm Regards, Michael​
 
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The original plan, at least, was to use the sections of the 700MHz band that weren't auctioned off for "public safety." If that's still the case, I would imagine that any attempt to use a wireless mic in those frequencies would be very highly frowned upon... :)
 
Clarification of 700 MHz spectrum availability

Clarification of 700 MHz spectrum availability

"However, upon closer inspection, the following frequencies are not part of the Block C frequency band:

711-721.975 MHz
741-745.975 MHz
764-775.975 MHz

This leaves 27 MHz of frequency spectrum space for existing users in the C Block domain."


This is not correct. While these three sections of spectrum were not part of Auction 73, they were included in earlier auctions (of which there were several), and in some cases licenses were then re-sold in private transactions. To make matters worse, the FCC used the same names ("A Block", "B Block", "C Block", etc.) for different sections of spectrum in different auctions. So the term "the C block" does not refer to one specific frequency range.

The only remaining unauctioned parts of the 700 MHz band are 758 - 763 MHz and 788 - 793 MHz (which the FCC refers to as the "D Block"). These were not sold in Auction 73 because no one met the minimum bid. The FCC is considering whether to change the bidding requirements and operational restrictions on this block, and will auction it again, probably in the next year or so.

The bottom line is specified in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: 'low power auxiliary stations' (including wireless microphones, wireless in-ear monitors, wireless intercoms, and wireless video assist devices) that operate between 698 - 806 MHz may not be used or sold in the U.S. after February 17, 2009. While this is only a Proposal and not a final Ruling, it doubtful that anyone will be able to raise an obstacle that will significantly change the outcome here.
 
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