USA
News made of USA
ProSoundWeb (9th March 2012)
Special Report: Wireless Interference Protections
Bringing Wireless Audio Equipment to the USA
(February 2012)
Legal framework for UHF White Space Applications
(December 2011)
PCWorld (11th February 2011)
Obama Goal: 98 Percent of US Covered by 4G Broadband
TVB (10th December 2010)
White Space Rules Go Into Effect Jan. 5, 2011
EDN (30th October 2010)
White Spaces: Austere And Somewhat Unclear Microphone Embraces
Broadcast Engineering magazine (11th October 2010)
FCC white spaces ruling ensures protection for wireless mic users
Broadcast Engineering magazine (10th October 2010)
FCC TV band device Second MO&O reserves two channels nationwide for wireless mics
EDN (29th September 2010)
Whitespace, still a bad idea
Broadcast Engineering magazine (21st September 2010)
FCC set to approve use of unlicensed TV white spaces for broadband networks
The Hill (25th July 2010)
Rockefeller deals blow to FCC proposal
Rethink Wireless (24th July 2010)
T-Mobile extends HSPA+ to 50 cities
Broadcasting & Cable (21st June 2010)
FCC eyes satellite spectrum for mobile bandwidth
TMWorld.com: (18th May 2010)
FCC releases RF spectrum online tool
ExecutiveGov: (15th May 2010)
FCC Grants Building of Broadband Networks
ExecutiveGov: (14th May 2010)
FCC Reveals National Broadband Plan
Connected planet online: (5th May 2010)
Spectrum biggest issue in keeping public safety net costs down
EDN: (14th April 2010)
Industry praises FCC’s plan for broadband
Broadcast Engineering magazine: (9th April 2010)
Wireless mic leaders react calmly to FCC broadband plan
Digits: (9th April 2010)
FCC Takes a Jab at Verizon CEO Over Spectrum
Multichannel News: (9th April 2010)
FCC To Start Tackling Broadcast Spectrum Issues This Year
Multichannel News: (16th March 2010)
FCC Broadband Plan: Reactions Pour In
Bloomberg.com (15th March 2010)
Mobile-phone companies may be the biggest winners
Multichannel News: (15th February 2010)
FCC Wants Broadcasters To Give Back 120 MHZ As Part Of Broadband Plan
Multichannel News: (14th February 2010)
Broadband Plan: Spectrum Fees Could Be Extra Band-Clearing Incentive
FCC: (13th March 2010)
Broadband Infrastructure Policy for the 21st Century
BuisinessWeek: (11th March 2010)
The FCC National Broadband Plan: Long Haul Expected
Digits: (11th March 2010)
FCC Chair Suggests Agency Is Considering Free Wireless Internet
Broadcast Engineering magazine: (3rd March 2010)
FCC considers revised wireless microphone licensing scheme
REUTERS: (25th February 2010)
CORRECTED - UPDATE 3-U.S. eyes paying broadcasters for mobile spectrumier
Broadcast Engineering magazine: (24th January 2010)
FCC orders frequency changes for wireless microphones
Broadcast Engineering magazine: (24th January 2010)
FCC order clears 700MHz frequency
Multichannel News: (16th December 2009)
FCC Chairman Puts Focus On Spectrum
The Wall Stree Journal: (2nd December 2009)
FCC Seeks Revamp of Phone Subsidy
Multichannel News: (21st November 2009)
CTIA: Public's Interest Is In Getting Back Broadcast Channels
eWeek: (9th November 2009)
Spectrum Issues Loom over Wireless Broadband
Broadcast Engineering magazine: (8th November 2009)
Report proposes clearing spectrum of broadcast television service
Broadcast Engineering magazine: (8th November 2009)
Broadcast associations advise FCC on national broadband plan
Operators may not get LTE smartphones until late 2011 (8th April 2009)
Broadcasters Sue FCC Over White Spaces Decision (4th March 2009)
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Bringing Wireless Audio Equipment to the USA
Are you bringing wireless microphones or in ear monitors into the United States for a production? If so, there are a few things that you should be aware of.
The first is that in order to be operated legally in the U.S., your equipment must be FCC certified. Transmitters should be marked with an FCC ID number, while receivers should bear an FCC Part 15 certification. Even though ETSI technical standards are generally more stringent than FCC Rule requirements, the FCC does not recognize them (and vice versa). Therefore, a CE Marking is not relevant within the United States. Of course, a product can be compliant with both European and FCC requirements and if so, it should bear both kinds of approval markings. Just as for Europe, the consequence of trying to bring equipment that is not FCC compliant into the U.S. is that it might be impounded by Customs officials. This is probably more likely if you have a large shipment of equipment that you want to bring in.
Wireless microphones and in ear monitors are now legally permitted to be operated on either a licensed or unlicensed basis in the United States within the UHF and VHF TV broadcast bands. There are some differences between licensed and unlicensed operation. The first is that generally, you would not be able to get a license unless you are a TV broadcast license holder or movie maker (see Section 74.801 of the FCC Rules). Licensed users may operate with up to 250 mW EIRP, while unlicensed users may only use up to 50 mW EIRP. This is not an issue for most wireless microphones, but some in ear monitor transmitters use higher power (e.g. 100 mW). The FCC has decided that you may legally use a 100 mW transmitter if you reduce the power to 50 mW, e.g., by using a passive attenuator at the output.
Another difference between unlicensed and licensed operation is that licensed users are entitled to priority access to database registration. If you have a license, you can register your microphones or in ear monitor systems with any FCC approved database operator, and you will receive protection right away (data should propagate to all databases within about 30 minutes according to the FCC). If you are unlicensed, you must request protection at least 30 days in advance using the procedure that will be specified by the FCC. Until the FCC registration system is operational, unlicensed users must submit registration requests directly to the FCC Office of Engineering Technology. The „subject“ line in the messages for such requests must begin with the phrase: „[Wireless Microphone Registration],“ followed by the entity’s full name. For example: [Wireless Microphone Registration] Widget Corporation. In addition to contact information, requests must include the following information:
1. Show that at least 6 wireless microphones, in ear monitors, or production intercom systems will be operating in each of the TV channels that are reserved or exclusively available for wireless microphone use at that location.
2. State which additional TV channels must be protected to accommodate the additional wireless systems that will be used at the event.
Requests from unlicensed wireless microphone users must undergo a public comment period before a reservation becomes effective. The FCC has stated that it will be possible to change some administrative parameters of the request during this period such as the specific channels to be protected, if necessary. One example of something they will not allow is asking for more channels than originally requested. This would require a new application, and would also trigger a new 30-day approval period.
What channels can be used by wireless microphones? Legally, only those channels that are outside the protected contour of TV broadcasting and Public Safety stations at your particular location. In the past, it was difficult to determine exactly which channels were available, although most wireless microphone manufacturers provided an online frequency finder application to help users do this. In the future, you will be able to find the available channels by going to the web site of any of the FCC approved database operators and entering the address or coordinates of your location. For now, Spectrum Bridge is the only approved database operator. You may want to try Spectrum Bridge’s Show My White Space online tool.
The first thing you will see is that there will be two FCC designated channels that are reserved for wireless microphones and in ear monitors. There should be two such channels everywhere in the U.S., although they will vary from one location to another. These channels are already protected from white space device interference, so you do not need to register them (and in fact, will not be able to do so). In most locations there will also be one or more additional channels that will also be protected by FCC restrictions on white space devices. „Fixed“ white space devices are not allowed to operate on channels that are adjacent to TV and Public Safety stations, and „Personal/Portable“ white space devices may not operate below U.S. TV channel 21. Thus, if there are locally unused channels below channel 21 that are adjacent to either TV or Public Safety stations, they will already be „off limits“ to white space devices and therefore do not need to be registered for protection.
Keep in mind that the purpose of a database registration is to provide protection from interference from white space devices. It does not serve as a frequency coordination service, although it is possible that some database operators may decide to offer this service at additional cost in the future. Normally, you would not submit your actual operating frequencies to the database operator; rather, you would request protection for those TV channels that you intend to use. Thus for example, if two wireless microphone users who want to operate microphones at the same physical location both submit registrations for the same TV channel(s), their submissions do not result in a conflict; they simply block that particular channel (or channels) from use by white space devices at that location.
When you register a location with a database, you will only receive protection for the dates and times you specify. In general, you would not be able to request protection on a 24/7 basis unless the event requires it. The FCC has indicated that they will consider requests of that nature on a case-by-case basis.
You are required to certify that you are making efficient use of all of the channels that are already protected by default before requesting that additional channels be protected. The FCC expects that 6-8 microphones can be operated in each TV channel. Please refer to the discussion earlier about available channels.
For both licensed and unlicensed microphones and in ear monitors, the protection zone is the same. „Fixed“ white space devices will be prevented from operating within 1 km of a protected location, while „Personal/Portable“ white space devices will be prevented from operating within 400m. What this means is that when a white space device reports its location to a database, if it is closer than the above distances to a protected location, it will not be assigned a channel that has been registered with the database for use by wireless microphones and in ear monitors at that location.
This short paper is not intended to be an all-inclusive reference on the topic of wireless microphone operation in the United States. If you have a specific question that is not covered here, please contact me and I will be happy to help you.
My contact information is: Edgar Reihl
Legal framework for UHF White Space Applications
Already in 2009 FCC wrote:
"
Under a new FCC rule, anyone who uses a wireless microphone (or similar device) that operates in the 700 MHz Band must stop operating their wireless microphone (or similar device) no later than June 12, 2010.
All users of 700 MHz Band wireless microphones (and similar devices) - including theaters, churches, schools, conference centers, theme parks, and musicians - will need to retune or replace, if necessary, their equipment no later than June 12, 2010. Wireless Microphones that operate outside of the 700 MHz Band are not affected.
"
Get the FCC web page here
In December 2010, the legal framework for new applications has been published:
Unlicensed Operation in the TV Broadcast Bands; Final Rule
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