FCC Now Looking at 4 MHz for Wireless Microphones

According to a source familiar with the item, the Federal Communications Commission is proposing to set aside some spectrum exclusively for wireless microphone use after all, but whether it will be enough remains to be seen.

The FCC had signaled wireless microphones would not get any reserved spectrum in the new post-incentive auction 600 MHz band plan, but wireless microphone users, including broadcast news folk, complained loudly.

According to the source, the amended incentive auction band plan would create a standard 11 MHz duplex gap -- between wireless uplink and downlink spectrum -- and set aside 6 MHz of spectrum for unlicensed use, 4 MHz for wireless microphones, and 1 MHz of guard band.