Wireless Mic NPRM OK'd 4-0, With Added Wi-Fi Questions
The FCC approved 4-0 an NPRM -- with tweaks, as expected (see 2104200063) -- on wireless mics in the TV and other bands, plus an order ending the 800 MHz rebanding proceeding. Commissioners offered brief statements on both items, neither of which faced opposition before the vote at Thursday's meeting.
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The NPRM seeks comment on wireless multichannel audio systems (WMAS), an emerging technology that would allow more mics per megahertz. It asks about allowing licensed use in many of the bands already available for mics and about unlicensed use, which is expected to be more controversial. It also seeks comment on other users of the bands, including broadcast TV and Wi-Fi.
The agency added questions based on ex parte discussions, particularly on recent changes in the 6 GHz band, approved a year ago for the next generation of Wi-Fi, acting Office of Engineering and Technology Chief Ron Repasi told reporters. “There were some additions to the text that go along the lines of ensuring that there’s no impact to all types of authorized service.” There are new questions on “what the impact might be when it comes to proposing to allow higher power from the WMAS operations” and whether any bands should be excluded, he said.
“Unless you’re in video and audio production, the odds are you haven’t thought much about wireless microphones, but they’re everywhere,” said acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: “Making sure all of these services can function at the same time without interference is a significant task. So when a new technology for wireless microphones comes along, it merits a close and careful look.” The NPRM "asks the right questions about how to revise our Part 74 rules to accommodate the licensing of WMAS microphones,” said Commissioner Nathan Simington.
“WMAS allows microphones to operate using wider bandwidth channels than the Commission’s rules currently allow by digitally combining multiple microphone signals,” said a news release. “The technology also uses a more efficient operating protocol, which results in a larger number of wireless microphones being able to operate in the available spectrum.”
The 800 MHz order declares victory on the rebanding, which started 17 years ago. After a long, contentious process, Nextel agreed to separate its operations from public safety users in the band to eliminate interference and to pay for the cost of the retuning, getting 10 MHz of 1.9 GHz spectrum in return. Nextel was later bought by Sprint, which was purchased by T-Mobile.
If the FCC were still meeting in person, the radios retuned as a result of the order would fill the meeting room, with little space for anything else, said Michael Wilhelm, chief of the Public Safety Bureau's Policy and Licensing Division. More than 2,100 systems have relocated to new channels, and 2.6 million radios were retuned or replaced, he said. Many public safety agencies used the program to upgrade their systems to make them more reliable, resilient and interoperable, he said. Wilhelm oversaw the program and is retiring from the FCC now that it’s complete.
The order was approved largely as circulated without “major changes,” Public Safety Bureau Chief Lisa Fowlkes told reporters.
The rebanding “is finally coming to an end," Rosenworcel said. “Public safety, critical infrastructure and other 800 MHz licensees can operate in a reconfigured band free of the interference that plagued first responders.” Simington said public safety should be included in any federal proposals to improve infrastructure.
“After years of hard work by the impacted parties, this important effort eliminated interference to public safety operations, provided improved communications for First Responders and made spectrum available for broadband services,” said a T-Mobile spokesperson.