LAS VEGAS — Over the last couple of months, FOH has reported on the impending opening up of the bandwidth used for wireless mics and monitoring systems to a new class of unlicensed consumer devices. Backed by some political heavy-hitters and a ton of consumer electronics lobbying dollars, the Communications, Consumer's Choice and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006 (S. 2686, H.R. 5252) includes a provision called the Wireless Innovation Act of 2006 ("WIN Act"), which is intended to permit unlicensed, non-exclusive use of unassigned television broadcast channels ("white space," also known as the space where our wireless systems live). The issue at hand is that these newly opened frequencies may threaten the airspace currently occupied by wireless receivers used during live events. If this measure passes, it could make finding open frequencies for wireless headsets, mics and other receivers even more difficult than it is now, if not impossible.
For more detailed information, check out Steve La Cerra's February On the Bleeding Edge column ("Trouble in the Air," which is online here) or Dan Daley's upcoming The Biz column.
In response, FOH has established a letter that readers are invited to copy/paste and send to their respective senators and representatives. To find the text of the letter and tools for getting email to your elected representatives and the FCC, simply choose from the letter forms below.
To get email addresses for your congressional representatives click here.
This will give you a list of all of the representatives for your
state. The best bet is to send to all of them. Click on the name and you will get a page for that senator or congressperson complete with an email link. It's pretty easy.
Here are two versions of the letter: one for your local
representative in congress and one for your state's two senators. Feel free to copy and paste them or add your own thoughts. But send something and do it today. The period for official comment on this issue is over as of March 2, 2007. (An informal comment period extends to October, but it is better to get our collective voice heard NOW!)
United States Senate
Washington D.C.
Dear _________________________
When was the last time you saw a concert or went to the theater? Or attended a live sporting event? Or listened to a sermon in a church? How about your constituents? How often do THEY take part in these kinds of activities? As a member of the live event production industry I know it is quite often.
The one thing that all of these events have in common is a strong dependency on the use of wireless microphones to get the content to the crowd. Legislation currently under consideration (The Wireless Innovation Act of 2207 (S. 234) and The White Spaces Act of 2007 (S. 337)) threatens to seriously hinder the ability to depend on the reliability of wireless microphones under most circumstances by allowing unlicensed consumer devices to operate in the same bandwidth.
While live audio production could be perceived as a niche industry, it is important to consider who it really affects. It is not just large concerts, mega-events and TV broadcasts. This is the referee at the local high school football game. This is the pastor at the church. This is the university class, business conference, town hall meeting, or one of thousands of other events that happen every day all over the country.
I urge you to take a considered and measured approach to this issue and take all necessary steps to protect incumbent services, like wireless microphones, from all harmful interference. It is imperative that the FCC be allowed the time to craft and implement a policy that will allow for the use of this new class of consumer devices without disrupting the events that millions of people attend every year.
At a minimum I would ask that the FCC identify and set-aside
sufficient TV Band spectrum in which these new unlicensed devices would not be allowed to operate, that spectrum sensing be required on all unlicensed devices and that these new devices include the ability to sense a beacon transmitted from a wireless mic that will protect it from interference.
The airwaves are public property meant to be used with the interest of the public in mind. The ability to be able to hear a sermon, university professor, or concert performance trumps the desire of those who hope to sell a new class of gadgets to the public without regard to the viability of other important wireless products that have existed in this space for nearly 40 years.
Thank You,
House of Representatives
Washington D.C.
Dear _________________________
When was the last time you saw a concert or went to the theater? Or attended a live sporting event? Or listened to a sermon in a church? How about your constituents? How often do THEY take part in these kinds of activities? As a member of the live event production industry I know it is quite often.
The one thing that all of these events have in common is a strong dependency on the use of wireless microphones to get the content to the crowd. Legislation currently under consideration (The Wireless Innovation Act of 2207 (S. 234) and The White Spaces Act of 2007 (S. 337)) threatens to seriously hinder the ability to depend on the reliability of wireless microphones under most circumstances by allowing unlicensed consumer devices to operate in the same bandwidth.
While live audio production could be perceived as a niche industry, it is important to consider who it really affects. It is not just large concerts, mega-events and TV broadcasts. This is the referee at the local high school football game. This is the pastor at the church. This is the university class, business conference, town hall meeting, or one of thousands of other events that happen every day all over the country.
I urge you to take a considered and measured approach to this issue and take all necessary steps to protect incumbent services, like wireless microphones, from all harmful interference. It is imperative that the FCC be allowed the time to craft and implement a policy that will allow for the use of this new class of consumer devices without disrupting the events that millions of people attend every year.
At a minimum I would ask that the FCC identify and set-aside
sufficient TV Band spectrum in which these new unlicensed devices would not be allowed to operate, that spectrum sensing be required on all unlicensed devices and that these new devices include the ability to sense a beacon transmitted from a wireless mic that will protect it from interference.
The airwaves are public property meant to be used with the interest of the public in mind. The ability to be able to hear a sermon, university professor, or concert performance trumps the desire of those who hope to sell a new class of gadgets to the public without regard to the viability of other important wireless products that have existed in this space for nearly 40 years.
Thank You,
