If you’ve been following the FCC Incentive Auction, then you are aware that the results are in—and the news isn’t great, but it’s also not as bad as some experts were predicting. If you wish to refresh your memory or missed the last Explora article, check out FCC Incentive Auctions Commence: Wireless Frequency Bands Slashed.
To compensate for the growing demand of mobile data in the US, the FCC concluded an auction of some of the UHF TV band spectrum. A plethora of wireless and microphones and personal monitoring systems operate in the UHF band, sharing the spectrum with DTV system and other wireless devices. Following a 39-month transition period, the UHF TV band will extend from 470 to 614 MHz. The rest, known as the 600 MHz band, will largely be utilized by mobile data providers. During this transition period, TV stations will begin moving to their new channel assignments, and mobile data providers will commence changing their operations gradually, city by city. As soon as your region’s mobile data provider begins using the 600 MHz band, you must choose different frequencies to avoid interfering with them. When the transition period wraps up, using wireless microphones and personal monitoring systems that transmit on frequencies between 616 and 653 MHz or between 663 and 698 MHz will be prohibited by law. Such devices must be retired from service.
By digging a little deeper into the results of the Incentive Auction, the FCC has updated and released some new facets to wireless usage laws that may prove beneficial to professional and semi-professional sound companies. The rules for White Space Devices (WSD) provide guidelines for unlicensed equipment operating on unused TV channels. WSD deployment has been slow in the past, but is expected to accelerate. The audio community has been concerned about this because of the increased possibility for interference caused by more devices using the same frequency range. However, licensed operation of wireless microphones will take precedence over unlicensed devices, including WSDs.
The FCC has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for a Reserved Channel, which allocates at least one UHF TV channel in every market for shared use by wireless microphones and WSDs. A final decision has not yet been made, and it is possible that the new FCC leadership may reverse course on this plan of implementation. Still, many areas, particularly in suburban or rural markets, will likely have more than one white space channel. Eligible and licensed wireless microphone operators can reserve any locally-vacant TV channel for their event, keeping WSDs from operating on these channels during the production.
A new revision on Co-Channel Operation with TV Station now allows wireless microphones to operate within four kilometers outside the actual service contour of a TV station, regardless of the location of the TV antenna. Licensed wireless microphone professionals are permitted to operate closer, or even within the service contour if they are indoors and the TV signal measures less than -84 dBm.
Unlicensed Microphones and White Space Devices
A Guard Band and Duplex Gap has been established. This permits some usage within the newly blocked bandwidth. An 11 MHz buffer band, called the duplex gap, has been set up between the upcoming downlink and uplink 600 MHz mobile broadband blocks. However, no devices shall operate in the lowest 1 MHz adjacent to the downlink block. The next 4 MHz (653-657 MHz) are reserved for licensed wireless microphone operators, and will not be shared with white space devices. This will be particularly useful for electronic news gathering (“ENG”) crews covering spontaneous events. On the other hand, the upper 6 MHz (657-663 MHz) of the duplex gap will be shared between unlicensed wireless microphones and white space devices.
The FCC is drawing a clearer delineation between licensed and unlicensed wireless microphone operations. Traditionally, motion picture producers, cable stations, broadcasters, and content creators of over-the-air broadcasts have been eligible for a Part 74 license. License eligibility has now been expanded to include venues and sound companies that routinely use 50 wireless microphones or more. All eligible parties are encouraged to apply for licensed status to take advantage of the privileges and rights afforded to them, including registration for interference protection from WSDs listed in the white space database system, as well as access to additional licensed bands outside of the UHF TV band. Unlicensed wireless microphone operators will no longer be able to register their productions for interference protection in the database system. Although the FCC has expanded license eligibility, this change may still pose a challenge for some regional companies and non-profit performing arts organizations who stage productions that utilize fewer than 50 wireless microphones, or similar devices.
Alternative Frequency Bands
The FCC recognized that wireless microphones are vital for content creation, live stage events, and civic activities alike. The Commission made a commitment to accommodate both current and future demand of wireless microphone operators, partially through access to alternative frequency bands outside of the UHF TV band, as well as through favorable modifications to certain operational rules. For up-to-date information on the results of the FCC Incentive Auction, check out the FCC’s Auction Page.
Additionally, there are many manufacturers that will be offering rebate programs, such as Shure’s 600 MHz Wireless Rebate, which will allow you to trade in your eligible system for a rebate toward your purchase of a new system. Expect similar rebate programs from major wireless system manufacturers including Sennheiser, AKG, and Audio Technica.
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