Wireless Mic Companies Appear Headed to Partial Win on Loosening Rules
Wireless mic companies and performing art groups appear headed to victory in their fight to get the FCC to change rules so smaller users can operate wireless mics in TV white spaces spectrum. The main opponent has been Microsoft, which argues other spectrum already is available for wireless mics and the TV white spaces should be protected. Reply comments were posted this week.
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“I think that the FCC will accommodate professionally managed venues more than unmanaged venues,” said Peter Tannenwald, lawyer at Fletcher Heald, who represents wireless mic interests. The "bigger issue” is how many channels should be kept open for white spaces devices, “especially in crowded urban environments,” he said. Other lawyers involved in the proceeding predicted at least a partial win for advocates of liberalizing the rules. A lawyer for a wireless mic company said the FCC likely will adopt the rules changes with fairly minor tweaks. A former spectrum official agreed, especially given the weight of the filings in favor or a rule change. Microsoft and the agency didn't comment.
In replies in docket 14-165, Microsoft stood in opposition to about 90 performing arts groups (see 1710160056). “The best way to achieve the Commission’s goals is to permit performing arts organizations to use the large amount of Part 74 spectrum the Commission has made available outside of the TV and 600 MHz bands,” Microsoft said. “This would provide spectrum for these organizations while accommodating other socially and economically beneficial wireless uses, including increased access to broadband services.”
Microsoft argued that wireless mic companies want to expand Part 74 eligibility well beyond qualified performing arts organizations. That threatens Wi-Fi in the white spaces, the company said. “Their proposals would allow even a single narrowband wireless microphone to block consumer access to an entire six-megahertz block of spectrum,” Microsoft said. “This approach would undermine the use of TV white spaces and fail to meet the Commission’s stated objectives in this proceeding.”
Shure, a leading marker of wireless mics, urged action, citing broad support for a rule change. “There are important productions in the civic, cultural, corporate, education, and entertainment sectors where fewer than 50 wireless microphone devices are used -- which is below the current threshold requirement for Part 74 license eligibility -- but where the ability of the wireless microphone to operate without interference is absolutely critical to the event,” Shure said.