[mfm-list]FCC gives 5 months notice to users of 700 MHz-band wireless mics

[Windsor Smith]

If you, like me, still have a wireless microphone that operates in the  
700 MHz band (formerly UHF TV channels 52-69) then you'll be  
interested to know that one of the biggest new owners of that  
frequency range, Verizon, plans to start using it later this year.   
Parts of that band will also be used for public safety transmissions,  
if they're not already.  (The 700 MHz band was auctioned off in 2008.)

The FCC issued an order today (Jan. 15, 2010) giving us until June 12,  
2010 to switch to different frequencies.  FCC chair Julius Genachowski  
promises "a major consumer outreach program, including a consumer- 
friendly Commission webpage on wireless microphones" to build  
awareness of the transition and the June 12 deadline.

(Officially we were supposed to stop using the 700 MHz band last year,  
and I imagine some parts of the band are already in use by the new  
owners, but there was a lot of confusion and uncertainty around this  
issue so I guess the FCC backed off on heavy-handed enforcement for a  
while... maybe because a lot of churches use such microphones, and I'm  
sure the FCC doesn't want to appear to be bullying them.)

If you bought a new wireless microphone in the last year or two then  
you probably don't have to worry because most manufacturers have  
already stopped selling models that use the 700 MHz band.  But if it's  
older then check the FCC's list at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones/manufacturers.html 
, or check the specifications in the microphone's documentation, or  
contact the manufacturer.

-- Windsor Smith


References:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-15/broadway-must-vacate-airwaves-to-make-room-for-verizon-at-t.html

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-295737A1.pdf

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones/

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones/manufacturers.html