58 • August 2014 • Lighting&Sound America TECHNICAL FOCUS: SOUND Following the auctioning in 2008 and re-allocation in 2011 by the Federal Communications Commission of the 698-806MHz band for use by mobile carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, and Qualcomm, plus broadband and relat- ed entities—and coincident with the final transition within North America from analog to digital terrestrial TV broadcasting—our industry is facing another logistical challenge as the FCC moves down-band into the 600MHz range. All of which means that the currently available spectrum for live sound performance will be dra- matically reduced, with migration into VHF and other bands a likely develop- ment within the coming year. This is because, unlike the mandated 700MHz auction, Congress is encour- aging TV stations to either hold their current licenses, give up all or part of them, or move into a lower channel, thereby freeing up current spectrum for new uses. Such a reallocation and repacking process is expected to begin in 2015 and continue possibly for several years; the auction is pre- dicted to produce $25 - 40 billion, compared to $21 billion for the 700MHz sale. Meanwhile, the industry has been fast to react and to make its voice heard in Washington; we are still recovering from the loss of the 700Hz band and, with more live performance events, concerts, music festivals, and conventions planned for the coming years, there is a continuing need for additional RF spectrum channels for microphones, IEMs, instrument packs, and intercoms. Last February and again in June, a group of wireless manufacturers and end users visited key Washington dignitaries, briefing them on the impact that the FCC’s proposed Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction of the 600MHz band and the consequent repacking of the UHF spectrum will have on the news and entertainment community. “The repacking, which is projected for completion by the end of 2018, will make it effectively impossible to pro- duce the thousands of large-scale events, from football games to political conventions, that routinely require as much as 300 or even 350MHz of wire- less frequency spectrum,” stresses Roger Charlesworth, executive director of The DTV Audio Group/DTVAG, which has been holding weekly con- ference calls on spectrum issues. “These events routinely consume the entire currently available UHF spec- trum, and frequently we must request additional spectrum via Special Temporary Authority.” The DTVAG’s working group— which includes representatives from Broadcast Sports, CP Communications, Broad Comm, Frequency Coordination Group, Audio- Technica, Lectrosonics, Sennheiser, Shure, several major broadcasters, and The Broadway League—was organized to promote discussions with the FCC’s commissioners, Office of Engineering and Technology, and The Wireless Bureau, and to establish which frequency bands professional wireless users might occupy in the future. “We support the position that, Wireless Spectrum Update By: Mel Lambert Critical changes in RF bands will result from the FCC’s planned Incentive Auction of 600 MHz frequencies The new Lectrosonics L Series tunes across a 75MHz band using patented Digital Hybrid Wireless technology, with four bands available for international use; both A1 and B1 bands are below 600MHz. “Wider tuning ranges can help a great deal when the spectrum continues to get more crowded,” offers Karl Winkler, the firm’s director of business development. The L Series consists of the LMb and LT belt pack transmitters and the LR miniature receiver. Copyright Lighting&Sound America August 2014 http://www.lightingandsoundamerica.com/LSA.html
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58 • August 2014 • Lighting&Sound America
TECHNICAL FOCUS: SOUND
Following the auctioning in 2008 andre-allocation in 2011 by the FederalCommunications Commission of the698-806MHz band for use by mobilecarriers, including AT&T, Verizon, andQualcomm, plus broadband and relat-ed entities—and coincident with thefinal transition within North Americafrom analog to digital terrestrial TVbroadcasting—our industry is facinganother logistical challenge as theFCC moves down-band into the600MHz range. All of which meansthat the currently available spectrumfor live sound performance will be dra-matically reduced, with migration intoVHF and other bands a likely develop-ment within the coming year. This is
because, unlike the mandated700MHz auction, Congress is encour-aging TV stations to either hold theircurrent licenses, give up all or part ofthem, or move into a lower channel,thereby freeing up current spectrumfor new uses. Such a reallocation andrepacking process is expected tobegin in 2015 and continue possiblyfor several years; the auction is pre-dicted to produce $25 - 40 billion,compared to $21 billion for the700MHz sale.
Meanwhile, the industry has beenfast to react and to make its voiceheard in Washington; we are stillrecovering from the loss of the 700Hzband and, with more live performance
events, concerts, music festivals, andconventions planned for the comingyears, there is a continuing need foradditional RF spectrum channels formicrophones, IEMs, instrument packs,and intercoms. Last February andagain in June, a group of wirelessmanufacturers and end users visitedkey Washington dignitaries, briefingthem on the impact that the FCC’sproposed Broadcast TelevisionSpectrum Incentive Auction of the600MHz band and the consequentrepacking of the UHF spectrum willhave on the news and entertainmentcommunity.
“The repacking, which is projectedfor completion by the end of 2018, willmake it effectively impossible to pro-duce the thousands of large-scaleevents, from football games to politicalconventions, that routinely require asmuch as 300 or even 350MHz of wire-less frequency spectrum,” stressesRoger Charlesworth, executive directorof The DTV Audio Group/DTVAG,which has been holding weekly con-ference calls on spectrum issues.“These events routinely consume theentire currently available UHF spec-trum, and frequently we must requestadditional spectrum via SpecialTemporary Authority.”
The DTVAG’s working group—which includes representatives fromBroadcast Sports, CPCommunications, Broad Comm,Frequency Coordination Group, Audio-Technica, Lectrosonics, Sennheiser,Shure, several major broadcasters,and The Broadway League—wasorganized to promote discussions withthe FCC’s commissioners, Office ofEngineering and Technology, and TheWireless Bureau, and to establishwhich frequency bands professionalwireless users might occupy in thefuture. “We support the position that,
Wireless Spectrum UpdateBy: Mel Lambert
Critical changes in RF bands will resultfrom the FCC’s planned IncentiveAuction of 600 MHz frequencies
The new Lectrosonics L Series tunes across a 75MHz band using patented DigitalHybrid Wireless technology, with four bands available for international use; both A1 andB1 bands are below 600MHz. “Wider tuning ranges can help a great deal when thespectrum continues to get more crowded,” offers Karl Winkler, the firm’s director ofbusiness development. The L Series consists of the LMb and LT belt pack transmittersand the LR miniature receiver.
Copyright Lighting&Sound America August 2014 http://www.lightingandsoundamerica.com/LSA.html
www.lightingandsoundamerica.com • August 2014 • 59
in addition to finding new spectrum,some amount of UHF should be pro-tected for wireless microphone opera-tions during breaking news events andother purposes,” states Charlesworth.
“As an industry it is critical that wework with the FCC to identify thespectrum in which professional userscan operate in the future, while alsorecognizing that it will be in significant-ly smaller allocations of less-desirablebands than are available currently; wemust be prepared to be flexible insharing underutilized slices of spec-trum with existing incumbent users,”Charlesworth stresses. Regarding theremaining UHF band, “not only doesthe FCC plan to eliminate the protec-tions afforded the pro audio industryduring the ‘White Space’ debate, butafter repacking there is unlikely to bemuch white space available,” he says.
Details of IncentiveAuction and SpectrumPlansSuch active lobbying was instigated inanticipation of the FCC’s open meet-ing on May 15 at which it was sched-uled to issue a Report and Order thatspelled out the commission’s IncentiveAuction and Spectrum Plan for theUHF band. “If successful, the plannedauction will reallocate the UHF band togive priority to unlicensed users andleave very little, if any, spectrum forwireless mics,” says Louis Libin, ofBroad Comm, a leading wireless coor-dinator. “Despite good lobbying, theUHF band is highly prized real estate,targeted fiercely by the mobile-phoneindustry. Wireless mics will be left withvery little spectrum—all shared. Oncethe FCC opens up new bands for wire-less mics, there will need to be a‘crash program’ to ensure that all theoperations we have grown accus-tomed to will continue to be availableto us. Clearly many of our argumentshave fallen on deaf ears at the FCC.”
The party of industry delegates thatvisited Washington earlier this year, inaddition to Charlesworth and Libin,
comprised: Mark Brunner, Shure’s sen-ior director of global brand manage-ment; Joe Ciaudelli, chief US corre-spondent of spectrum affairs withSennheiser USA; Henry Cohen, seniorRF engineer/designer and FCC liaisonwith CP Communications; JackieGreen, VP of R&D/engineering withAudio-Technica US; Peter Larsson, co-founder and GM with BroadcastSports; Brooks Schroeder, seniorcoordinator with the FrequencyCoordination Group; and Karl Winkler,director of business development withLectrosonics.
According to Brunner, “During thismeeting we discussed several issuesaffecting wireless microphones andcomplementary systems, including thefact that the UHF band is criticallyimportant to support wireless micro-phone operations in professional pro-ductions. Users and coordinators arefacing serious shortages of UHF spec-trum needed to support live events.Due to interference and propagationattributes, for decades the UHF bandhas been the preferred spectrumchoice for manufacturers and profes-sional users. Wireless microphonetechnology is evolving to offerincreased spectral efficiency and tomake use of non-UHF spectrum suit-
able for specific applications, withadvanced coordination techniques toincrease frequency re-use. For longer-term planning purposes, we will con-tinue to explore flexible uses in otherspectrum bands that have the poten-tial to support some wireless-micro-phone operations.”
In planning for the loss of availableUHF spectrum, the group discussedhow the two reserve UHF channelsdedicated to wireless microphones ineach market could have provided criti-cal clean spectrum to professionalusers, and the need to preserve twochannels in the UHF and/or high VHFbands. (In the end, the group lost partof this particular argument, since thetwo reserve channels are absent fromthe FCC’s upcoming repacking plan.)
“We also discussed rules thatwould permit professional-use wirelessmicrophones to operate in the pro-posed guard bands and mid-band gapin the 600MHz range,” Winkler recalls,“with priority through geolocationdatabases that would enable users toaccess expanded frequencies for theduration of the event.” Also on theagenda was the need to align VHFwireless mic rules with service rulesapplicable to UHF systems, and hencemake VHF a more suitable band for
The Shure ULX-D Digital Wireless System is described as offering new standards forspectral efficiency, with simultaneously operable systems per MHz in a crowded UHFband. The system comprises, from left: ULXD1 wireless body-pack transmitter; ULXD2handheld wireless microphone transmitter with choice of mic capsules; ULXD4 digitalwireless receiver; ULXD4D dual-channel digital wireless receiver; and ULXD4Q quad-channel digital wireless receiver.
TECHNICAL FOCUS: SOUND
pro audio use.“We also highlighted the fact that
current Part 74 rules are grossly out ofdate,” adds Winkler, “and should berevised to allow all professional wire-less microphone operations—not justbroadcasters—to be eligible for such
licensing. This change would ensurethat wireless microphones used in the-atrical, touring, concert and other pro-ductions would be covered by a Part74 license,” enabling flexible and effi-cient use of the geolocation databasetechnologies that will be critical to
successful future spectrum sharing.“Sooner or later mic operators will
have less access to UHF spectrum,specifically in the 600MHz range,”Ciaudelli confirms. “But we don’t pre-dict this will occur until after 2016. Wereiterate our general recommendationto customers that require UHF equip-ment to buy new systems that canoperate below 600MHz. The impor-tance of wireless mic operation iswidely recognized within the FCC; weare working closely with [the commis-sion], industry groups, and[Sennheiser’s] development depart-ment to refine a long-term plan.Bottom line: The future will includewireless mics.”
And while the 600MHz band is des-tined to be repurposed through theFCC auction to provide additionalspectrum space for mobile broadbandproviders, “we have petitioned theFCC and Congress to mandate thatwinners of auctioned spectrum com-pensate mic owners for the replace-
Expected changes to UHF spectrum following FCC’s repacking schedule, showingguard bands that might be available for wireless systems. Exactly how much of thespectrum will be repurposed will remain unknown until the FCC’s Incentive Auction inmid-2015.
Follow UsCall 800-356-5844or shop fullcompass.comLeading The Industry For Over 35 Years
www.lightingandsoundamerica.com • August 2014 • 61
ment of equipment that they will notbe able to use after spectrum repack-ing,” Ciaudelli states. Additionally, theworking group has encouraged theFCC to allow wireless users to contin-ue operating in auctioned 600MHzspectrum as long as possible until newservices come online, and to identifyadditional spectrum space for addi-tional, long-term wireless microphoneuse.
Possible Solutions: NewTechnologies andAlternate Spectrums“Even without the upcoming spectrumchanges, users and coordinators arefacing serious shortages of UHF spec-trum needed to support live events,”Lectrosonics’ Winkler considers. “Dueto propagation attributes, the UHFband has been the preferred spectrumchoice for wireless microphone manu-facturers and professional users.Manufacturers, frequency coordina-tors, and users have responded to thecontinuing shrinkage of clear spectrumby working together on [various]strategies, driving technology develop-ment to increase efficiencies andencouraging use of non-UHF spec-trum suitable for some applications.”
One targeted range has been the2.4GHz spectrum, which currently isshared with Wi-Fi and other devices.While this band suffers from a reducedrange of operation and significant con-gestion, 2.4GHz devices can often fre-quency-hop and work well despitecompeting with other systems.DECT—or Digital Enhanced CordlessTelecommunications—also is available,despite offering only a 10MHz band-width in North America and 200MHz inEurope, although with time-slice allo-cation multiple devices can functiontogether; in relatively quiet RF environ-ments, it might be possible to use upto 40 wireless channels.
In early June, the FCC, in itsSecond Report and Order, expandedPart 74 license eligibility to include“professional sound companies and
owners and operators of large venuesthat routinely use 50 or more wirelessmicrophones, where the use of wire-less microphones is an integral part ofthe major productions or events theyhost.” This decision will gateway thedevelopment of professional high-band VHF systems for our industry,despite requiring larger antenna sizes;suitable hardware could be availablewithin the year. (Interestingly, in FCC14 - 62 the commission notes thereceipt of numerous commentsregarding the revision of Part 74,
including correspondence from trademagazines, manufacturers, and sys-tem operators.)
Systems that operate in the 944 -952MHz range are currently availablefrom several manufacturers for use bylicensed broadcasters, while othersare working on new systems; despiteminor propagation problems, suchhardware could cover a number of RFapplications. Other bands underreview include the 1.785 - 1.805GHz,3.550 - 3.650GHz, and 6.875 -7.125GHz ranges; product time-to-
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62 • August 2014 • Lighting&Sound America
TECHNICAL FOCUS: SOUND
market could be between three to fiveyears, if there is sufficient industrydemand and propagation difficultiescan be solved.
Industry Reactions toSpectrum ChangesT. Richard Fitzgerald, a theatricalsound designer and currently CEO ofNew York-based Sound Associates,says that the industry will need to “fitand squeeze” to accommodate theproposed spectrum changes, but thaton Broadway, “with more than 2,500RF channels in use we’ve learned tobe good neighbors. We alwaysencourage operators to share their fre-quency selections [with nearby the-atres and operators] and be fullyaware of their systems’ propagationattributes—whether or not the signalswill pass through curtains and walls”and cause interference. Fitzgerald alsoserves as a technical consultant to TheBroadway League.
“For us, the 900MHz band is[designed] for semi-professional useand is not suitable for Broadway;700MHz is also less attractive becauseof propagation problems,” Fitzgeraldstates. “And 5.1GHz won’t be appro-priate because of antenna size andshort propagation ranges. VHF hassaturated bandwidth—particularly fromtaxi cabs—and is not nearly as stableas UHF bands. We are the most criti-cal of users; we expect high qualityfrom the lowest possible number ofoutput watts.”
Henry Cohen, from CPCommunications, is a senior RF engi-neer/designer who has worked closelywith the FCC on current and previousspectrum changes. “In the long term,the wireless paradigm will change,” heconsiders. “It will be rough for the nextfew years if there is limited spectrumavailable in shared spaces and/or lim-ited equipment” to take advantage ofthe reduced RF spectrum.
“While there is no hard cutoffplanned for the 600MHz band, it willtake 6 - 10 months after completion
The FCC Incentive Auction
According to a briefing paper prepared by Sennheiser, in mid-2015 theFCC plans to hold a Spectrum Incentive Auction that will transfer spec-trum currently allocated for over-the-air TV service to mobile broadband.The auction offers TV broadcasters the opportunity to relinquish or sharetheir current spectrum licenses, on a voluntary basis, in exchange for aportion of revenue generated by the auction. Broadcasters now operatingon channels within the 600MHz range, who elect to stay on the air, will bemoved to different TV channels during the subsequent UHF repackingprocess, which is expected to take up to 39 months to complete, meaningthat wireless mic operation in the 600MHz range is expected to remainunchanged through 2016.
The amount of spectrum to be repurposed will not be known until afterthe Incentive Auction, but could be as much as 120MHz, starting at698MHz and extending downwards.
There remain doubts regarding whether or not the auction will succeed.If it fails, then TV spectrum usage is unlikely to change for at least severalyears, or until the auction process is reactivated. Nevertheless, operatorsof RF systems are being advised to prepare for the likelihood of realloca-tion of the 600MHz band.
The impact on the 600MHz spectrum after repacking will be severe,although some details will not be clear until further FCC proceedings andthe Incentive Auction take place.
Wireless mics are slated to be allowed to operate in some pockets ofthe 600MHz, within the planned guard bands and duplex gap. The FCCwill place a guard band at the end of the repurposed spectrum—and insome scenarios, another one above Channel 37—in addition to a duplexgap between blocks intended for up- and down-links; these guard bandsand duplex gap will act as buffers to protect the two blocks from interfer-ing with each other, and adjacent services. Due to out-of-band emissionsfrom the up- and down-link blocks, the risk of mic interference operating inthese buffer zones may be high.
While the reallocation will be “largely uniform” nationwide, it may stillvary by market. The FCC plans to start from TV Channel 51 (698MHz) andmove downwards but, because of the auction’s voluntary nature, it is stillunclear how much of the spectrum will be reallocated; it could be as far as578MHz.
Currently, two TV channels in each market are reserved for wirelessmic/IEM use; however, they will not exist after the repacking process.
The commission has also stated in FCC 14-62: “The Incentive AuctionReport and Order requires wireless microphones to vacate the repurposedUHF spectrum by the end of the post-auction transition period, which willbe 39 months after the release of the Channel Reassignment PublicNotice,” and “expressly condition any new LPAS licenses [for ‘Low PowerAuxiliary Stations,’ which includes wireless mics, IEMs, and intercoms witha range of around 300'] granted between now and that date, includinglicenses granted to newly eligible licensees, on the requirement to ceaseoperating in the repurposed spectrum no later than that date.” Followingthe post-auction transition period, such licensees will only be able to oper-ate in the bands allocated for TV broadcasting.”
of the FCC’s auction for the new[wireless broadband] systems tocome online, and maybe 12 - 18months for people to leave the bandin urban areas, with rural users exitingmaybe 6 - 12 months after that.” Interms of recommendations for futureusers, “the VHF spectrum is available.If users need to purchase new hard-ware, my advice is to buy into the500MHz band, because it will beusable until at least 2016. When thedust has settled [from the FCC auc-tion] then I’d expect new products tobe made available, as well as addi-tional spectrum.
“I’m confident that, with three-to-five-year development schedules,manufacturers can develop wirelessproducts that will work within theavailable spectrum space. But with ourshows getting larger and more com-plex, being able to operate morechannels in increasingly crowded fre-quency bands will be challenging. Nosingle band will be our industry’s sal-vation.”
“We need to help policy makersrecognize that the reduction in pro
audio spectrum space is important,”stresses Shure’s Brunner. “In anticipa-tion of the FCC’s Incentive Auction, wewill need to consider alternative bandsand alternative technologies. Weremain optimistic about the future, butneed time to develop new RF systemsthat work on these new frequencies.
“We are encouraged by the com-mission’s recognition that wirelessmicrophones are critical to servicessuch as newsgathering while alsoplaying an essential role in the public’sday-to-day experience and enjoymentof the performing arts, sports, cultural,religious, and business events. In fact,much of the content for which wirelessbroadband services are used for deliv-ery requires increasingly creative andintensive use of wireless micro-phones!”
“We will continue to investigate the2.4GHz and upper VHF bands,” statesAudio-Technica’s Green. “VHF sys-tems will work at 50mW power levelsfor Part 74 licensed users; for manyapplications there is no need to run at250mW. Propagation might be a prob-lem, but can be overcome with anten-
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Various industry representatives visited Washington during early February to meet theFCC. From left: Joe Ciaudelli, chief US correspondent of spectrum affairs withSennheiser USA; Jackie Green, VP of R&D/engineering with Audio-Technica US; MarkBrunner, Shure’s senior director of global brand management; and Karl Winkler, directorof business development with Lectrosonics.
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na modeling software. Systems for the5GHz and 6 - 10GHz bands are not assimple to innovate, but we have ahead start with a successful 6.350GHzUWB product already on the market.We are looking closely at the 940 -961MHz bands, in addition to the sev-eral regions in the 1GHz - 2GHz spec-trum that will allow us to coordinatewith European markets. We also hopethat the FCC moves quickly and effi-ciently to identify new frequencybands, in order to minimize negativemarket impacts due to productlongevity/spectrum uncertainty, andalso give wireless microphone manu-facturers time to develop additionalnew products.”
“We have developed systems inalternate bands above UHF andalready offer some of them in Europe,”adds Sennheiser’s Ciaudelli. “Althoughthe propagation characteristics andoperating range are not as optimal asUHF, they work quite well. Whilethere’s no denying that 600MHz is thebeachfront property of the RF spec-trum, with wonderful propagation andlow power requirements, we are look-ing at developing new products in vari-ous bands. However, we cannot start
a manufacturing line for products inbands that we think the FCC will openup for us.
“Regarding the issue of Part 74license eligibility, we are very pleasedwith the commission’s ruling to expandit to include sound companies andvenues that routinely use 50 mics ormore. This will allow many more pro-fessional operators the ability to direct-ly reserve spectrum for their produc-tions in the database system, providingsafeguards from unlicensed devices.”
“We are certainly asking the FCC tochange the rules so that we can sharecertain spectrum space with otherusers,” offers Lectrosonics’ Winkler.“Everything from VHF to 10GHzshould be open territory for broadcast-ers, live sound users, and White Spacedevices. But we are seeing that thespectrum is too valuable and there isvery little left for professional audioapplications. Of course, some of thesehigher-frequency bands will requirefairly radical new designs and newways of operating these systems inorder that they work as well as whatwe are using now.”
“The FCC has given the pro audiocommunity several tools and protec-
tions to help us avoid interferencefrom the devices with which we cur-rently share spectrum,” saysFrequency Coordination Group’sSchroeder. “As a community, we needto do our part by using these tools;every Part 15 wireless mic user shouldbe using the Unlicensed WirelessMicrophone Registration System, andPart 74 users should register for pro-tection with a White Space databaseadministrator. A lot of hard work hasbeen spent to keep our access to aclean spectrum; we need to show theFCC that we’re using it. Because thesandbox is getting smaller, we need toshow we can share it.”
“We need to continue our push foraccelerated action on behalf of theFCC for replacement spectrum spacefor professional applications,” summa-rizes DTV Audio Group’s Charlesworth.“If the auction is successful and therepacking of spectrum space—as pre-dicted—is aggressive, we will be leftwith little or no space in the 600MHzband. Currently, NBC in New Yorkuses some 640 RF channels, whileFox Broadcasting uses close to 440.At the very minimum, our request isthat the FCC grants us exclusive useof the guard bands for professionalwireless mics, to allow the use of lega-cy equipment for newsgathering oper-ations. Although those several dozenfrequencies will not be enough tocover everything we need to do, atleast we can continue to use our600MHz systems—particularly IEMs,which are critical quality and use low-power receivers—until we see whichway the future lays.”
Mel Lambert has been intimatelyinvolved with production industrieson both sides of the Atlantic for moreyears than he cares to remember. Heis now principal of Media&Marketing,a Los Angeles-based consulting serv-ice for the professional audio indus-try, and can be reached [email protected]; +1/818.558-3924. G
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Changes to the UHF wireless spectrum from 470MHz - 806MHz, following the introduc-tion of DTV services and FCC frequency auctions.
