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| FCC policy change could make your wireless mic illegal |
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January 21, 2009
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Many video professionals think only consumers have been caught off guard or misinformed about the DTV transition. Because we have been privy to the entire mess, from missed deadlines to the final reality of next month’s analog broadcast cutoff, video professionals have not fallen victims to things like confusing DTV with HD, or thinking our cable service or satellite TV service will require expensive receiver upgrades.
Yet, due to lack of specifics in the Federal Communications Commission’s rulemaking process, a last-minute clarification of allowable spectrum use after the DTV transition will make inadvertent criminals of virtually every videographer and institutional fixed AV installation.
Have on opinion on this issue? Say it in the Government Video forum.
The FCC has
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WAYNE COLE
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determined that all licenses issued for operating transmission devices in the 698-806 MHz band will be illegal — not just high-powered operations like TV or commercial radio stations, but even low-powered devices like wireless microphones. Got a wireless mic in your bag? That makes you a radio station operator, operating under a license issued with the device when you purchased it.
At the time of purchase, that license was considered to be good as long as the equipment was operational and transferred with ownership of the equipment. In its wisdom, however, the FCC changed its mind late last year and never made any attempt to notify license holders of this fact, either directly or through original manufacturers or resellers of the affected wireless mic systems.
For high-power RF transmitter operations, this is not a problem. They have to renew licenses directly with the FCC and most have to have an RF engineer on staff who has to keep up with FCC rule changes. But how many schools, churches, independent videographers, or local theaters have a radio engineer on staff?
I checked my wireless systems and they offer 35 frequency choices — all between 801 and 805 MHz. Had I not learned of the new rules, I would not think to replace my system because it works just fine. And had the FCC caught me, tracked me down, and charged me with operating an illegal/unlicensed radio station, I would have no defense. Remember, ignorance of the law is no excuse.
To avoid the sanctions that such a violation would bring, I have to modify my systems or change them to operate in the vacant UHF frequencies below the current channel 52 (below 698 MHz). Otherwise, my wireless mic operations might interfere with the newly reserved frequencies for public and emergency services. With my luck, my case would be passed to some young-gun prosecutor who would charge me with “jamming” emergency communications frequencies for nefarious purposes.
While I always seem to get caught whenever I try to just bend rules, not even break them, you might feel luckier and decide to continue using illegal wireless mics past the Feb. 17 cut-off date. And because of the shear number of users who are uninformed (really through no fault of their own), the percentages are in your favor that you will never be “brought to justice” for operating an unlicensed radio station.
However, there is a moral issue to consider. What if interference from your wireless mic system stepped on the emergency communications that could have saved lives or helped to apprehend a criminal? Is that risk worth saving the expense of upgrading or replacing your existing wireless mic systems?
You do have options. Azden, Audio-Technica, Lectrosonics, Sennheiser, Shure, and Sony, among others, have wireless systems that operate in the sub-channel 52 frequency bands. You might also find wireless systems that operate safely in your area above 806 MHz.
To be sure, you should locate a Web site or other source that will tell you which wireless mic frequencies will not interfere with, or be interfered by, local TV or public safety frequencies. Unfortunately, the FCC and many wireless mic manufacturers do not have “frequency finder” tables that are up to date with the new FCC rules.
Check the frequencies that your UHF wireless mic system uses — not all existing systems fall into the “forbidden” band. Next, contact your system’s manufacturer and the FCC with your wireless system’s frequency choices and ask if your existing system can operate under the new rules or if you need to upgrade/replace it. Some manufacturers offer “frequency finder” Web pages that allow you to find unused frequency bands in your area on which wireless mic systems can operate without interference.
Wayne M. Cole, CCV, CLVI, and member of the AGCV Board of Advisors, is also the owner of IHP, a video production company located Santa Barbara, CA. Contact him at wcole@ihpweb.com.
| COMMENTS (3) | | 06/21/2010 | | Well, you know it is all about control and one less thing that we are aloud to do in the great USA. It won't end here. Be ready for it. |
| | 01/17/2010 | | I know our church spend over $14,000 on microphone equipment couple years ago and now those frequencies are illegal. |
| | 12/21/2009 | | How about I become the ruler of the world and change my mind and make air to breath for FCC illegal, what a bunch of idiots, "hey, I am sitting here eating donuts with my huge belly, lets do something, let make some frequencies illegal." |
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