Please note that this information pertains to United States wireless operators only.
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve noticed that the available UHF frequency range for operating wireless mics and IFB has been shrinking. It started with the FCC auctioning off the 700MHz block, which became prohibited for use in 2010. As of June, 2020, the 600MHz block is also prohibited. That leaves us 470Mhz - 608MHz for UHF use. (What is known as “white space”.)
There is some permitted, unlicensed use in the 600MHz range, including the 614-616MHz guard band, and a portion of the duplex gap from 657MHz to 663MHz. There are restrictions on use here. The duplex gap use is limited to very low-power use, no more than 10mW. This makes these bands rather unpractical.
So, what’s going on? Well, there are two issues. First, larger lobbying entities have more sway. Second, though, is that there are not enough registered, licensed users in the white space for the FCC to consider that they’re doing any real damage by auctioning off these UHF bands. There’s not much we can do about the first one, but the second one falls on us. In short, the more licensed use there is in the remaining white space, the more documentation there is to show the FCC just how many users will be displaced. This requires a Part 74 Low Power Auxiliary Station (LPAS) license.
Unfortunately, the need and the benefits of the Part 74 license are not at all well-publicized. Not. At. All. In fact, it’s hard to find, and most users are completely unaware of its need or even its existence. This post is to help get this information out there, and hopefully to encourage more people to apply for their licenses.
So what does the Part 74 License get us? Most importantly, it gives us standing with the FCC. Again, it’s about having documentation of just how many users there are across the nation. With no license, there’s no voice. But licensed users can appeal to the FCC. Just as importantly, licensed use allows us to protect our use during production by “reserving” certain frequencies for use during an individual event. Should there be another, unlicensed user nearby that fires up on the same frequency, a licensed user has the legal right to shut them down (within a certain radius). While it may be difficult, or nearly impossible, to locate an unlicensed user creating interference in most cases, the protection still can be helpful.
The other key benefit to the Part 74 License is that it opens up a bit more ability in how we operate, and opens up use of more frequencies. Unlicensed use in white space frequencies cannot legally operate above 50mW. Most of the “prosumer” systems from Sony, Sennheiser, et al don’t offer any higher transmission power, but transmitters from manufacturers like Lectrosonics can go as high as 250mW, the upper limit for Part 74 use.
There’s also another frequency block that is not permitted for unlicensed use, but is available for Part 74 licensed users: the 941MHz block. Lectrosonics is one of the early adopters of this band and offers both IFB and radio mic systems that operate here. While the much higher frequencies suffer from some range issues and require much more clear line of sight, the benefit is that this block is not crowded like other blocks. The range issue does make use for talent wireless a bit challenging, but for IFB systems is seems very well-suited.
As a side-note, there are client IFB systems that are widely in use on sets across the US operating in the 216-217MHz band. These are actually not legally permitted for use on set, and are not covered by Part 74. Again, this issue is not at all well-publicized, and certain IFB system manufacturers still produce and market their systems in this band.
Acquiring our licenses protects us and our industry. This begs the question, “How do I get my Part 74 License?”
Step one is to register with the FCC for an RCC Reference Number (FRN). Getting your FRN is free. Once you have your FRN, you can apply for your Part 74 LPAS.
This is where things get tricky because the FCC website is anything but user-friendly and the application process is daunting. Everything must be perfectly and accurately completed or the application is rejected and the applicant must start over. The good news is that there’s help available through both companies and individuals to ensure a correct application. Some are much more expensive than others. If you’d like to be connected with an experienced broadcast engineer who knows the process inside and out, and who charges a very reasonable fee, please message me.
The application itself comes with a fee ($170 as of this post), but once approved the license is good for up to 10 years. Please check for your individual state’s licensing terms. Here in Tennessee, the 10-year period is on a set calendar and not based on individual license issuance. When I was initially granted my license, there were mere weeks left before the current licensing period expired, so I had to file immediately for renewal.
Those of us who do this professionally, who make a living from operating wireless microphone and IFB systems, really owe it to ourselves and our industry to obtain our licenses. It’s the only way we have to try and protect what’s left of our usable white space.
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve noticed that the available UHF frequency range for operating wireless mics and IFB has been shrinking. It started with the FCC auctioning off the 700MHz block, which became prohibited for use in 2010. As of June, 2020, the 600MHz block is also prohibited. That leaves us 470Mhz - 608MHz for UHF use. (What is known as “white space”.)
There is some permitted, unlicensed use in the 600MHz range, including the 614-616MHz guard band, and a portion of the duplex gap from 657MHz to 663MHz. There are restrictions on use here. The duplex gap use is limited to very low-power use, no more than 10mW. This makes these bands rather unpractical.
So, what’s going on? Well, there are two issues. First, larger lobbying entities have more sway. Second, though, is that there are not enough registered, licensed users in the white space for the FCC to consider that they’re doing any real damage by auctioning off these UHF bands. There’s not much we can do about the first one, but the second one falls on us. In short, the more licensed use there is in the remaining white space, the more documentation there is to show the FCC just how many users will be displaced. This requires a Part 74 Low Power Auxiliary Station (LPAS) license.
Unfortunately, the need and the benefits of the Part 74 license are not at all well-publicized. Not. At. All. In fact, it’s hard to find, and most users are completely unaware of its need or even its existence. This post is to help get this information out there, and hopefully to encourage more people to apply for their licenses.
So what does the Part 74 License get us? Most importantly, it gives us standing with the FCC. Again, it’s about having documentation of just how many users there are across the nation. With no license, there’s no voice. But licensed users can appeal to the FCC. Just as importantly, licensed use allows us to protect our use during production by “reserving” certain frequencies for use during an individual event. Should there be another, unlicensed user nearby that fires up on the same frequency, a licensed user has the legal right to shut them down (within a certain radius). While it may be difficult, or nearly impossible, to locate an unlicensed user creating interference in most cases, the protection still can be helpful.
The other key benefit to the Part 74 License is that it opens up a bit more ability in how we operate, and opens up use of more frequencies. Unlicensed use in white space frequencies cannot legally operate above 50mW. Most of the “prosumer” systems from Sony, Sennheiser, et al don’t offer any higher transmission power, but transmitters from manufacturers like Lectrosonics can go as high as 250mW, the upper limit for Part 74 use.
There’s also another frequency block that is not permitted for unlicensed use, but is available for Part 74 licensed users: the 941MHz block. Lectrosonics is one of the early adopters of this band and offers both IFB and radio mic systems that operate here. While the much higher frequencies suffer from some range issues and require much more clear line of sight, the benefit is that this block is not crowded like other blocks. The range issue does make use for talent wireless a bit challenging, but for IFB systems is seems very well-suited.
As a side-note, there are client IFB systems that are widely in use on sets across the US operating in the 216-217MHz band. These are actually not legally permitted for use on set, and are not covered by Part 74. Again, this issue is not at all well-publicized, and certain IFB system manufacturers still produce and market their systems in this band.
Acquiring our licenses protects us and our industry. This begs the question, “How do I get my Part 74 License?”
Step one is to register with the FCC for an RCC Reference Number (FRN). Getting your FRN is free. Once you have your FRN, you can apply for your Part 74 LPAS.
This is where things get tricky because the FCC website is anything but user-friendly and the application process is daunting. Everything must be perfectly and accurately completed or the application is rejected and the applicant must start over. The good news is that there’s help available through both companies and individuals to ensure a correct application. Some are much more expensive than others. If you’d like to be connected with an experienced broadcast engineer who knows the process inside and out, and who charges a very reasonable fee, please message me.
The application itself comes with a fee ($170 as of this post), but once approved the license is good for up to 10 years. Please check for your individual state’s licensing terms. Here in Tennessee, the 10-year period is on a set calendar and not based on individual license issuance. When I was initially granted my license, there were mere weeks left before the current licensing period expired, so I had to file immediately for renewal.
Those of us who do this professionally, who make a living from operating wireless microphone and IFB systems, really owe it to ourselves and our industry to obtain our licenses. It’s the only way we have to try and protect what’s left of our usable white space.
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