Source: https://www.fcc.gov/general/wireless-microphones-0?fontsize=
Timestamp: 2017-08-21 22:36:07
Document Index: 403223804

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 74', 'art 74', 'art 74', 'art 74', 'art 74', 'art 15', 'art 15']

Wireless microphones are used to transmit sound to an amplifier or recording device without need of a physical cable. Their use provides many important functions that serve the public interest. For instance, they play an essential role in enabling broadcasters and other video programming networks to serve consumers, including helping electronic news gathering (ENG) activities at locations in the field and the broadcasting of live sports events. Wireless microphone users include theaters and music venues, film studios, conventions, corporate events, houses of worship, major sports leagues, and schools. Wireless microphones can include hand-held or body-worn wireless microphones, in-ear monitors, devices used for cueing on-air talent, and intercom systems for backstage communications.
There are a wide number of wireless microphones available, serving different needs. Some meet high technical standards to achieve the performance purposes for which they are used, while others do not require such high-end technical capabilities for their particular purposes. Wireless microphones may operate in various spectrum bands. The technical rules under which wireless microphones operate will differ depending on the spectrum band in which they operate. Wireless microphones may be designed to operate on discrete frequencies within a spectrum band, or they may operate over a range of frequencies in band.
The FCC allows the use of wireless microphones on a licensed and unlicensed basis, depending on the spectrum band, technical characteristics, and user eligibility. Most wireless microphones that operate today use spectrum in the TV bands - that is, the VHF and UHF bands allocated for television broadcasting - which has included TV channels 2-51, (except channel 37). Wireless microphones also may operate on other spectrum bands as well.
Bands outside of TV bands that are available for wireless microphone use. In 2015, the Commission provided for new opportunities for licensed wireless microphone operations in spectrum outside of the TV broadcast band, including in the 169-172 MHz band and portions of the 900 MHz band, the 1435-1525 MHz, and the 6875-7125 MHz bands. Unlicensed wireless microphone operations are permitted in several bands outside of the TV bands, including the 902-928 MHz band, the 1920-1930 MHz band, and portions of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. FCC 15-100
Types of Wireless Microphone Operations Authorized by the FCC – Licensed and Unlicensed
Licensed Wireless Microphones.
Certain eligible wireless microphone users and users of other similar equipment (such as for cue and control communications and synchronization of TV camera signals) may obtain low power auxiliary station (LPAS) licenses under Part 74, Subpart H, of the FCC’s rules, to operate on TV band spectrum on a secondary basis subject to certain prohibitions and other requirements contained in the rules. Part 74, Subpart H The FCC’s rules generally permit licensed wireless microphones operations on unused television channels in the TV bands, but they must share this spectrum with other users and have secondary status - they must protect the primary TV broadcast operations, as well as other primary and secondary operations, from harmful interference and must accept interference from these other users when operating. FCC 15-100
Wireless microphone users that are eligible for a Part 74 license historically have included broadcasters and motion picture and television program production entities. In 2014, the FCC provided for a limited expansion of eligibility for wireless microphone licenses by adding two new categories of eligible entities: “large venue owner or operators” and “professional sound companies.” To be eligible for a license under these new categories, a large venue owner or operator and a professional sound company must routinely use 50 or more LPAS devices, where the use of such devices is an integral part of major events or productions. “Routinely using” 50 or more LPAS devices means that the venue owner or operator uses 50 or more such devices for most events or productions. FCC 14-62
Wireless microphone users may also operate on a licensed basis under Part 74 in other spectrum bands, including specified portions of the 900 MHz band, the 1435-1525 MHz band, and the 6875-7125 MHz band, where eligibility is limited generally to broadcasters, broadcast network entities, and large venue owners/operators or professional sound companies that routinely operate 50 or more wireless microphones for major events/productions. Part 74, Subpart H Licensed wireless microphone users may also operate on specified frequencies in the 169-172 MHz Band, which is available to a variety of entities. FCC 15-100
Unlicensed Wireless Microphones.
Many (if not most) wireless microphone users today operate on an unlicensed basis in the TV band spectrum. The unlicensed use of wireless microphones in TV band spectrum is subject to certain restrictions - including low power levels than licensed operations, they may not cause harmful interference, and they must accept any interference from other users that operate in the band. In 2015, the Commission established the rules for the operation of unlicensed wireless microphones in the TV band spectrum in a Report and Order. FCC 15-99 Also, wireless microphones have been developed that operate on other frequency bands on an unlicensed basis under the FCC’s Part 15 rules. These frequency bands include the 902-928 MHz band, the 1920-1930 MHz band, and the 2.4 GHz band. FCC 15-100
Registration of Wireless Microphones Operations
The FCC’s rules provide for interference protection for licensed wireless microphone operations from unlicensed white space devices in the TV bands spectrum by permitting wireless microphone licensees to register their operations in a white spaces database (administered by third parties). Specifically, under the current rules, licensed wireless microphone users and licensed users of other LPAS equipment may register their operating locations, channels and times in the white spaces database, and receive interference protection from unlicensed white space device operations.
Wireless Microphones Order on Reconsideration
DA 17-314
Wireless Microphones Report and Order
FCC 15-99
TV Bands Part 15 R&O
TV Bands Wireless Microphones Second Report and Order
FCC 14-50 – Incentive Auction Report and Order
DA 10-92
Consumer Disclosure Requirement Pertaining to Low Power Auxiliary Stations that Operate in the 698-806 MHz Band
Order - Acrobat - Word
Revisions to Rules Authorizing the Operation of Low Power Auxiliary Stations in the 698-806MHz Band
Erratum - Acrobat
Report and Order and Further NPRM - Acrobat - Word
Statement of Chairman Genachowski - Acrobat - Word
Wireless Microphones Prohibited 700MHz Band