How a Move in Congress Could Spell Problems For Wireless Mics

A live audio engineer and frequency coordinator by trade, Geoff Shearing is always concerned with finding clean channels upon which his clients can operate wireless production systems in the field. He uses special software programs that seek out interference-free frequencies, but, with an increasing amount of wireless devices coming on the market every day, his job is getting harder all the time.
Along with a group representing sound equipment manufacturers (like Shure) and audio and TV trade groups, he recently traveled to Washington, DC to bring attention to an impending problem linked to the country’s transition to digital television broadcasting.
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If the Federal Communications Commission has its way, and Congress agrees, a new generation of wireless consumer electronics devices-laptop Wi-Fi cards, wireless keyboards and network routers, etc.-would cause severe interference for users of wireless microphones and other remote production equipment. That’s because a proposed law would allow the use of unassigned broadcast spectrum (a.k.a. “white spaces”) between 54MHz and 698 MHz. That’s exactly the same UHF frequency bandwidth wireless mics and intercom systems use now.

Q: Is this a real concern, or just an assumed problem?
A: Particularly for live productions-such as stage and corporate presentations-but also for TV production, this is going to have a huge effect. People don’t understand how widespread the use of wireless microphones really is. Not only in live theater, but also in TV news, business presentations, churches, and local concerts; they're used all over the place. We do a lot of work on Broadway [in New York City], and within the Times Square area, there are literally 10,000 wireless microphones used. Each theater probably has close to 80 (including wireless intercom), then you add the news crews, hotels and corporate boardrooms and it adds up quickly.

Some or all of those might have a problem if one or two unlicensed devices were to cause signal interruption in the area. Any sort of interference whatsoever could ruin a show, so the potential problem is huge and it will affect both theater owners and audience members.

We have some interference issues now, so you can just imagine what effect it will have if there’s more spectrum being used up. And our clients are always asking us for more wireless devices. Something has got to give. It could totally cripple the remote production industry.

Q: Aren’t there technical fixes that could be implemented, for example, finding frequency-agile equipment that could find unused bandwidth?
A: We have discussed different scenarios, but it would require years of R&D and a real commitment on the part of audio equipment manufacturers to develop new technologies to counteract the continually shrinking spectrum we have to work with. Just moving to a higher frequency is not a solution, because as you move up in frequency, you don’t get the range that we get now. You have to use shorter cable lengths for antennas because the signal won’t travel as far. So there are a lot of technical considerations.

We could shield theaters form outside interference, building a copper mesh across the ceiling and around the walls, but who’s going to pay for that? There’s no easy fix.

Q: What can the average production company do to help save the spectrum?
A: Our whole point in going down to Washington was to let the appropriate Congress members know that there’s a lot of people that use the spectrum, not just production people. We’re fighting a well-financed lobbying effort on the part of Microsoft, Intel and others, who are trying to paint production companies as a bunch of pirate radio users that really don’t matter in the larger scheme of things. When you look at the revenue the entertainment industry generates, it's a sizeable amount and an important part of our economy that shouldn’t be overlooked.

We’re asking the industry to get together with their trade groups and local unions and lobby their local congressional representative. The production industry needs to come together as a whole and be heard in Washington. If Microsoft, Intel Dell have their way and the FCC and Congress agree to pass the proposed bills into law, ENG and other types of wireless production may be seriously affected. And it won’t be Congress that our clients complain to – it will be us. I could lose business if a production doesn’t go well, and it may not be my fault.