A wireless Microphone License?

George Redmon · From: Muskegon & Detroit Michigan.

Tell me they're kidding right? i'm violating the law because i have no mic license? When the standard tv's switch over to digital they sold our wireless mic freqs for 19 million? sounds like it's all about money to me. Sure sounds like our wireless will be obsolete and not usable in the near future.

By Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Consumer groups are accusing Broadway actors, mega-church pastors, karaoke DJs and others who use popular wireless microphones of unwittingly violating Federal Communications Commission rules that require government licenses for such devices.

In a complaint filed Wednesday, the groups accused manufacturers, such as Shure Inc. of Niles, Ill., of deceptive advertising in the way they market and sell high-end, wireless microphones to people who are not legally permitted to use them.

The complaint recommends that the government agree to a general amnesty for unauthorized microphone users.

The legal filing on such a quirky subject raises serious questions for the U.S. government.

It alleges that after the nation's conversion to digital broadcasting in February, some of the microphones will threaten emergency communications and interfere with commercial wireless carriers, which spent $19 billion to use the same airwaves as the microphones.

It's unclear how many entertainers, pastors, musicians and others use wireless microphones. Analysts say there may be millions, most of whom do not understand that FCC rules require a license and include strict limits on who may qualify for such a license.

High-end wireless microphones operate in the same frequency bands as broadcast television stations. The devices are intended for use in the production of television or cable programming or the motion picture industry, according to FCC rules. Those users must obtain a government license.

FCC records show 952 people or organizations possess such licenses.

The complaint, filed with the FCC by a coalition of consumer groups known as the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition, figures heavily in a steadily escalating battle between broadcasters and the technology industry over who should have access to frequencies that exist between television channels, also known as "white spaces."

The FCC rarely enforces the licensing requirements on the microphones because there have been so few complaints. The microphones are programmed to avoid television channels. Broadcasters haven't complained and the consumer groups accused the FCC of "benign neglect" regarding enforcement.

A spokesman for Shure, Mark Brunner, said the FCC understands that "today's uses of wireless microphones provide a valuable and irreplaceable public good, regardless of the licensing scheme."

FCC spokesman Robert Kenny confirmed that use of the microphones has drawn few complaints, but "may going forward, and we recognize that."

The commission is considering rules that will resolve interference problems among legal licensees, but there are concerns the fix won't address those users who are unlicensed.

"This is a serious concern and one that raises complex issues for us to consider," said Kenny, the agency spokesman.

Channels 52 through 69 in the UHF television band, currently used by broadcasters, will be vacated on Feb. 17 as they convert to digital broadcasting. The government sold that section of airwaves for $19 billion in the FCC's most successful auction in history.

Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc. bought $16 billion worth of the licenses. The companies are expected to take years before they begin using them. Other parts of the television spectrum will be used by paramedics, police and firefighters.

It's not known how many wireless microphones operate in that range and will be subject to interference.

The FCC also is currently considering whether to allow companies to use the airwaves spaces between television channels, following the digital transition, for transmitting wireless broadband signals.

Consumer groups and some of the nation's largest technology companies - including Google Inc., Microsoft Inc. and Dell Inc. - say these white spaces represent enormous potential to make broadband access more accessible. The nation's broadcasters, however, are unconvinced devices can be designed to avoid interfering with television signals.

The lawyer who wrote the complaint, Harold Feld of the public interest law firm Media Access Project, said wireless microphones have been the "elephant in the room" in the debate over white spaces.

Shure, Broadway theaters, the Grand Ole Opry and other users of wireless microphones objected to the FCC over future white-space devices because of fears about interference - even though many of them haven't been granted government licenses for the microphones they're using.

That's a point not lost on the FCC chairman, who generally supports the initiative on white spaces.

"The complaint certainly highlights the fact that there are already other people using the white spaces in an unlicensed capacity and that's something we will look at going forward," the FCC's Kenny said.

The consumer groups are recommending that the FCC halt sales of wireless microphones that operate between channels 52 and 69 and create a new "general wireless microphone service" to operate in other parts of the airwaves. They also want the FCC to require microphone manufacturers to replace the older devices.[/b]

Brian Kurlychek · From: Maine, USA

Those things have hardly any range. Next they'll say that you can use an IPOD with FM transmitter in your car.
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Jonathan Cullifer · From: Gallatin, TN

Most of the wireless mic systems are frequency agile. If there's a problem, move to a different frequency. But it's always been like that. I remember working at a church that had a fairly elaborate mic system and they had to reconfigure it due to interference.

Blake Hawkins · From: Florida

It has been my understanding that most of the wireless microphones operate under "Part 15" of the FCC rules which governs low power devices and does not require a user license.
There are two-way frequencies which are set aside for
dispatch and other communications. These are assigned to broadcast stations, film production companies and newspapers and do require a license.

Frequency coordination for large sporting events
such as the Olympics, NFL games and such is handled by a local committee. In many cases staffed by volunteer members of the "Society of Broadcast Engineers."

Of course, I may be wrong or out of date on any of the above.

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

I have a Mr. Microphone I use to talk to chicks while crusin up and down the local drag so am I gettin throw'd in jail?

Jonathan Cullifer · From: Gallatin, TN

Alvin Blaine · From: Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA

USA Today Story

another story

Shure

YES you do have to have a license for a wireless,unless it operates in the 49 MHz, AM/FM broadcast, or 902-928 MHz band. [Part 15, 90.113, 90.265(b)]FCC
It's $75 for a 5 year license.

Right now Shure has a law suit against the "White Spaces Coalition", and they have a suit against Shure and other wireless device manufactures.

The bigger problem, other than your supposed to have a license, is that on Feb 19 some of the wireless frequencies will start broadcasting DTV. So your wireless receiver may just become obsolete(or you just have to learn to like the sound of digital static over the PA). The government took all those frequencies and sold them off to the "White Space Coalition", DTV broadcaster, and wireless phone companies.

Shure and Senhauser our both offering to reprogram old wireless devices(for a fee). Thing is they are selling devices right now that they KNOW wont work in 6 months.
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rpetersen · From: Iowa

A little different twist on mikes - A friend of mine in Cheboygan Michigan mounted radios in 3 of their vehicles on a ranch he worked at and the first time they went into town, the first thing they heard was "Welcome to McDonalds, May I take you order please" - the good part was they had to be within 2-3 blocks to hear it, but kinda took them by surprpise!
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