Operation of Wireless Microphones in The 700 MHz Band Prohibited
Under a new FCC rule effective June 12, 2010, anyone who, in the United States, uses a wireless microphone (or similar device) that can operate in the 700 MHz band will have to stop operating their wireless microphone (or similar device) at or above 700 MHz.
Certain wireless microphones have operated in frequencies that are needed for public safety. When these microphones were first designed, the frequencies they used were in between the frequencies that television stations used to broadcast television programs. With the completion of the digital television (DTV) transition on June 12, 2009, television stations no longer use the frequencies between 698 and 806 MHz (the 700 MHz Band) for broadcast. These frequencies are now being used by public safety entities (such as police, fire and emergency services) and by commercial providers of wireless services (such as wireless broadband services).
The wireless microphones that had been operating in the old TV broadcast channels can cause harmful interference to these public safety and wireless consumer services. Therefore, all users of wireless microphones (or certain low power auxiliary stations) that operate on any of the frequencies in the 700 MHz band – including both licensed users (under Part 74) and unlicensed users – now have to stop operating in this band.
The FCC is only prohibiting the use of wireless microphones (and similar devices) that operate in the 700 MHz Band. You may continue to use wireless microphones (and similar devices) that operate on other broadcast frequencies. Microphones and other similar devices with cords are not affected by the FCC’s decision.
Similar devices to wireless microphones are also known as equipment for “low power auxiliary stations”. Typically these devices can transmit over distances of 100 meters. Examples of similar devices include wireless intercoms, wireless in-ear monitors (IEM”), wireless audio instrument links, and wireless cuing equipment (aka “IFB”).
By David Nguyen, July 11, 2010 @ 9:26 PM
I wasn’t even aware of this. It’s a complete surprise to me that operating a wireless device such as a wireless microphone in the 700 MHz band is now illegal within the United States, regardless of whether or not the device was licensed.