FCC Expected to Reject Vacant Channel Recon Push
The FCC is expected to deny a petition for reconsideration filed by wireless-mic maker Sennheiser of a December 2020 order (see 2012080064) closing the agency’s 2015 NPRM on whether to allocate a vacant channel for use by white space devices…
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and wireless microphones. Sennheiser faced an uphill climb, with strong opposition from NAB and a united commission voting to close the proceeding, industry officials told us. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated an order last week on the recon petition. The FCC didn’t comment. Rosenworcel also circulated for a commissioner vote proposed changes to rules for environmental review of telecom projects in flood plains, in light of various changes to other federal environmental rules. FCC officials said the NPRM doesn’t seem to be on a fast track. It also circulated last week. In February, Sennheiser asked the FCC to reopen the proceeding, in a call with Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology staff. “Microphones operating on low-band UHF TV band spectrum are the only ones that can deliver the fault intolerant reliability, compact size and battery life that film, TV and theater producers demand,” said a filing in docket 15-146. In December, the company told the FCC a study it commissioned found an open channel in the 50 largest U.S. markets. “NAB emphasized that Sennheiser has provided no basis for reconsideration of the Commission’s unanimous order closing the vacant channel proceeding,” broadcasters told Wireless Bureau and OET staff in their last filing on the topic in November: “NAB urges the Commission to promptly dismiss Sennheiser’s petition for reconsideration of this order.” NAB and Sennheiser didn’t comment Wednesday.