Users of wireless microphone systems have been hearing a lot about the Whites Spaces proposal before the FCC.  It has struck fear in the hearts of many, concerned that systems presently in use won’t function a year from now.  We first reported on the White Spaces issue in December.  Since a great deal of activity has taken place in the interim, we asked Shure’s Senior Director Mark Brunner for an update. 

Let’s talk about the 700 MHz band.

The 700 MHz (698-802) auctions recently ended, generating over $19 billion for the US Treasury.  After the February 2009 Digital Television (DTV) Transition, the auction winners will have access to this spectrum and begin to offer new services.  Wireless microphone systems that are designed to work in the 700 MHz band will still function after February 2009, but they will also experience an increase in interference from competing devices on those frequencies.    

Shure has ceased manufacturing products in the 700 MHz frequency band and we’ve directed our users to migrate away from it.  For example, the UHF-R® wireless microphone system was never manufactured in that frequency band for use in the US.  We recognize that a lot of equipment – manufactured by Shure and others – is still out there and functioning fine. But those systems will experience an increasing level of interference as the months and years go by, and the severity will likely vary by geographical location. 

What about unlicensed devices in the future DTV band, channels 2-51? There are some huge names leading that charge.

Philips, Dell, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Google, Motorola and others have had a loud voice in this campaign. Many have submitted prototypes for technical evaluation and put proposals before the FCC in terms of how the television band could be utilized by new devices.  As more of the world demands wireless connectivity, this portion of the spectrum represents an economic opportunity.  In terms of the science, these frequencies also provide very robust transmission characteristics.  With the 700 MHz band no longer viable for wireless microphones, the future of the core DTV band becomes critical, because the space between TV channels 2-51 (often called ‘white spaces’) is what remains for our use.   

For these large companies, the objective is to increase their offering of products and services – primarily for broadband Internet – and to do so both in rural and urban areas.  The rural model has typically been wrapped around a fixed deployment.  Certain frequencies would be in nearly continuous use by a fixed device providing a broadband connection.  The other deployment involves personal and portable devices that individual users would carry – which would inevitably see higher concentrations in urban areas.  For wireless microphone users, the proposed personal/portable devices represent the greatest potential for interference. 

For some legislators, the objective is to address the issue of the rate of broadband deployment in the US.

Global studies on the rate of broadband deployment are often equated with economic growth – information access, communication, and education – all facilitated by Internet traffic.  Although the US enjoys the highest number of broadband connections in the world, the rate of deployment is only in the top fifteen. This is because we have such a vast geography and it’s difficult to get broadband connections out to rural areas.  Some believe that television spectrum is the best delivery mechanism to do that, because the white spaces appear to be ‘vacant.’  But wireless audio users know they are not, particularly in urban areas. 

Fortunately, other legislators are equally concerned about preventing disruptions to broadcast television and the many cultural institutions that rely on wireless microphones, from sports programming to houses of worship. 

So what’s happening in Washington?  What initiatives are underway? Which way is the decision heading?

The most important barometer of public opinion on this issue would be the Inslee and Rush bills in the US House of Representatives.    

Congressman Jay Inslee’s legislation is House Resolution (HR) 1597 – intended to accelerate the process of opening up the white spaces for new uses. This bill is supported by eight House co-sponsors with virtually no additional new co-sponsors since its introduction.    

The opposing legislation, authored by Congressman Bobby Rush, is titled House Resolution (HR) 1320.  This bill continues to add new co-sponsors and is up to 17 at this point.  HR 1320 calls for new uses of the spectrum only when full protection for incumbents is technically proven.   

These House bills are a barometer of the Congressional sentiment on this issue, and while many members of Congress certainly are interested in accelerating US broadband deployment, there are also many who are very concerned about avoiding disruption to existing services.  More have chosen to make a statement about not disrupting existing services than those who want to barrel forward and allow new uses of the television band without a thorough technical analysis. 

Is this a done deal?  Has the FCC made a final determination?

Currently the FCC is evaluating technology designed to sense occupied frequencies within the spectrum, before they write any rules regarding future use of the television band. This is a re-do of testing that was performed last summer, after which the results were somewhat contested by the Microsoft camp due to their device not functioning properly.  By the time this story is published, Microsoft will have withdrawn their device yet again due to performance problems.  Despite these setbacks, the FCC is diligent about the technical information-gathering portion of their process.  They want to make sure that their analysis is as up-to-date as possible.   

But aren’t there spectrum-sensing “smart radio” prototypes in development that would allow all of these wireless devices to work in harmony?

For the tests described above, prototype spectrum-sensing devices have been submitted by Philips, Motorola, Microsoft, Adaptrum and a company called I2R.  Only the Philips and the Microsoft devices are claimed to have the ability to sense a wireless microphone signal.  The fact that they’re striking out in the testing phase indicates that any promise of a smart handheld or portable device avoiding interference with existing users of the TV spectrum is questionable. Contrary to what you may read or hear, this is not an easy engineering problem to solve.   

How can Shure Notes readers enter the discussion?

We encourage pro audio users to make certain their voices are heard.  Information on how to file a comment either electronically or in a full formal letter can be found at FCC Filing Section.

Citizens who want to make a statement on this issue should contact both the FCC and their local representative.  It’s important that members of Congress are made aware of the concerns of their constituents.  When you communicate directly with the FCC, your statement will join the docket with thousands of other comments, but when a local Congressman hears from a citizen in the district, he or she becomes very attuned to the issue. 

Everybody’s voice counts.  You don’t have to be a major player to make a difference.  It’s what the political process is all about.

For more information on this issue, visit the Shure White Spaces Section of the site.