FCC Moves Forward With Wireless Mic Frequency Database
It has been a year since the deadline for ceasing use of wireless microphones in the 700 MHz range, and the FCC is slowly making progress in developing a database to help wireless mic users locate available frequencies for use. The plan is for the Federal Communications Commission to generate and manage an interactive database to help identify VHF (TV channels 7-13) and UHF (TV channesl 14-51) that are available for use for wireless mics in specific geographic communities. The intention of the FCC is to help users find open frequencies (known as white spaces) between television broadcast channels that are available for wireless mic use. The FCC has not yet made a final decison on who might manage this database, but the leading candidates would appear to be Comsearch, Key Bridge & Google. The primary purpose for this database is to give users of unlicensed wireless mics and other wireless consumer electronics equipment a real time ability to locate a useable frequency. Since most new wireless mics are "frequency agile" (allow frequency changes in the field) this database has great potential to server both wireless mic users and those companies that purchased the right to operate within licensed spectrum as part of the conversion to digital tv broadcasting. Until the FCC makes a choice of database managers, wireless mic users are limited to being able to locate licensed television broadcasters in their geographic area whose broadcast frequencies are known. You can locate this search function at the FCC website by accessing http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/audio/tvq.html and entering your geographic location. Want to sound off about the FCC? Post something to our forum Jeff Harrison -Jeff Harrison is a sound person and special event producer who lives in works in Chapel Hill, NC. His most recent work includes producing professional school commencement exercises for the University of North Carolina. He can be contacted at jeff@wirelessmic.net Got a minute to take our wireless mic user survey? Click here.
Be sure to check out buybattery.com for your Duracell wireless mic batteries. Explore the wonderment that is Gaffers Tape at buytape.com
|