FCC Report and Order Addresses Spectrum Changes for Wireless Microphones

With the release on June 2 of the Federal Communications Commission’s Incentive Auction Report and Order (R&O), following the May 15 vote -- a 3-2 decision along party lines -- the long-term future looks to be full of potential changes and challenges for users of wireless microphones and in-ear monitors.

Says Roger Charlesworth, executive director, DTV Audio Group, “It’s going to be as problematic as we thought it could be. It’s still several years away, but, after the TV-channel repack, it will become virtually impossible to do large-scale production in the 600 MHz band.”

The Incentive Auction’s 600 MHz Band Plan will strip away the two TV channels that are currently reserved for wireless-microphone use. Even this 12 MHz is by itself completely inadequate for large sports and entertainment events, which routinely use 100 to 150 wireless frequencies, says Charlesworth.

“That’s more like 10 TV channels. Theoretically, there will be one naturally occurring channel available to be shared with white-space devices after the channel repack, but I think that’s a fantasy. Over the long term, there really won’t be a useful amount of spectrum available.” Manufacturers and users in the DTV Audio Group have engaged in productive discussions with the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology about potential frequency-spectrum and wireless technologies that could be used in the future.