AES Journal Forum

While there are a number of licenses in various segments of the 700 MHz band, I am not aware of any in actual day-to-day use except those that were authorized by waiver in special circumstances. There may be some, and of course starting next week who knows what we'll see. It is definitely time for a good scanning receiver or spectrum analyzer to be close at hand.

Of course, since the FCC hasn't defined the operating parameters of the database, we don't know what they will require. In some cases 08-260 refers to licensed operations, in some cases "authorized" but this statement (at 216) makes their intent fairly clear: "The database can be populated by information pertaining to facilities authorized by the Commission via an extract from the Wireless
Telecommunication Bureau's ULS database. This database contains information on license holders..." Of course one could argue that "authorized" might include the extraordinary lengths that FCC is going to, in protecting existing but unlicensed users. More when we know something definite.

Licensing is the bone of contention here. The high VHF and UHF wireless mic channels are in the broadcast segment of the spectrum, so the way the Communications Act reads, they can only be assigned to entities that have a broadcast license (AM, FM, television station). This rule has been eroded over the years — broadcast networks that didn't actually own stations were made eligible because wireless mics were used in the production of network programs that eventually were broadcast. Then, entities that produced programs for broadcasters, cable operators and motion picture producers were added. So, if you assert that you are producing a program for later broadcast on a cable network or a licensed station, you're eligible. It has nothing to do with size.

In the "white spaces" decisions, FCC has acknowledged that they know there are a lot of folks out there using wireless mics without a license, and that it is in the public interest to reserve space for them. On one hand, you could take the position that churches, theaters, musical performers and anyone else using TV band wireless mics are somehow authorized to continue operating without a license.

On the other hand, the rules defining eligibility are quite broad. If your church is any of the following, it is already eligible:

"...a person or organization engaged in the production or filming of motion pictures."
"...a person or organization engaged in the production of television programs."
"...a cable television system operator that produces program material for origination or access cablecasting" [further defined basically as a cable TV system that serves subscribers, originates at least some of its own programming, and uses public right-of-way for its facilities).

The actual licensing procedure is actually quite simple. If there is enough interest, we will publish a how-to that will explain the various steps. The cost is $75 for a license, and it covers all the wireless mics at a given location (which, in the case of the National Football League's license, for instance, is the entire US).

Just to clarify: The rules published in the Federal Register on February 17th was a revision to Part 15 only (the addition of a Subpart H) to regulate the manufacture and deployment of TVBDs. This revision has nothing to do with the operation of wireless mics, which is covered under Part 74, Subpart H, and which is currently under revision as well.