WASHINGTON DC — After a long series of series of delays, the FCC is proceeding with its planned auctions of much of the 600 MHz spectra — including those frequencies used by a number of pro wireless microphone and IEM products in the U.S. Slated to begin March 29, 2016, this so-called “incentive auction” is largely based around frequencies that will be vacated by certain UHF TV broadcasters.
FRONT of HOUSE recently spoke to Mark Brunner of Shure who, with a number of other manufacturers, have been closely involved with lobbying efforts with the FCC on the part of the professional wireless audio community.
“All the elements are in place to commence the auction on March 29th, and we anticipate this will take several weeks,” Brunner explains. “On completion of the auction, the FCC will issue a channel re-assignment notice. This will give us the landscape of the new UHF TV band — including the duplex gap, the division between the uplink and downlink network blocks — which is the place where wireless microphones will be able to continue to operate. However, until the auction is over, we won’t know precisely what 600 MHz gear will be able to continue operation.”
Given that timetable, the future of pro wireless products operating in the 600 MHz remains somewhat murky — at least until mid-April 2016, when the picture will become clearer. But all is not entirely lost for those whose existing wireless systems fall within the “lost” portions of the 600 MHz band.
“Following the auction, there will be a 39-month transition period in which the involved broadcasters either sign off the air or move to new channel assignments,” Brunner added. “Once that’s completed, wireless microphones and gear operating in the spectrum that has been auctioned will have to cease operation. So we’re looking at a 39-month — plus six months or so — transition timeline, after which equipment affected by this auction will have to be either modified or replaced.”
