Shure Asks FCC to Allow More Time for Wireless Mic Comments
Shure asked the FCC to extend the comment deadline for a rulemaking about wireless microphones to March 1 from Monday. And dozens of additional users of the mics asked the commission to keep their interests in mind as it requires most wireless mics to stop using the 700 MHz band by June 12.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
“In this proceeding, the Commission has raised a broad range of complex issues, including proposed technical rules for wireless microphone operations, as well as expanding categories of wireless microphone operations eligible for a Part 74 license,” Shure said. “These and other important issues raised by the Commission have far-reaching ramifications for the entire wireless audio community, including for many wireless microphone users that do not normally follow Commission proceedings. Yet, the Commission established a very short comment cycle -- the minimally required time period under the Communications Act.”
Shure said the public interest would be served by an extension “due to the extensive adverse weather conditions” that affected Washington, D.C., and surrounding regions, “coupled with the already short comment deadline to address the many significant issues raised in this proceeding.”
The FCC has received 85 filings in just one of the dockets regarding wireless mics in the past 30 days. Many were from churches and other groups that use the devices. The Texas Senate provided a list of the wireless mics and other wireless devices that it uses. “It is essential to our day-to-day operations that the wireless devices we use are protected from interference and that those devices are eligible for any necessary license,” said the Senate’s secretary. “Throughout an average day in the Texas Senate, we employ the use of various wireless microphones, wireless assisted listening devices, wireless speakers, and wireless receivers for video production. … These devices are critical in supplementing our installed audio and video systems.”
Wireless devices are critical to the operations of U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, said audio manager Carson Price. “We currently use wireless microphones, intercoms, in-ear monitors and hearing impaired devices during our professional sporting events,” Price said. “It is imperative our communications are crystal clear and free of any interference that would have a negative impact on our game broadcasts. We are asking that any rule changes that the FCC adopts will allow us to obtain an FCC wireless microphone license and continue doing what we are doing now with the equipment we currently use.” Maryland’s Harford County Public Schools system said it uses wireless mics and intercoms for school plays, concerts, assemblies, sporting events, and graduation ceremonies. “Given the size of our district, 53 schools, hundreds of these productions are performed during any given school year. Without interference-free wireless audio capability these performances would not be possible since clear communication with the audience and unrestricted movement could not be realized.”