FCC Approves White Spaces Regulation By Vote

In a decision that could affect thousands of live musicians using wireless ear monitors, instrument systems and microphones, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Nov. 4 unanimously approved regulations for “white spaces” or the leasing of frequency space to companies such as Google and Microsoft. A large coalition of companies, organizations and individuals, including Shure, NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants, the National Association of Broadcasters, and Sen. Hilary Clinton (D-NY),  opposed the legislation arguing that wireless product users would face interference when performing live at gigs.

FCC Commissioner Deborah Tate approved the legislation by saying, “I listened carefully to an amazingly broad array of comments and was assured by top engineers at the Office of Engineering Technology (OET), that interference would not be a concern.

“Shure is concerned that, despite technical evidence to the contrary, the commission’s action opens the door to a new breed of wireless gadgetry that relies on unproven technology as a safeguard against interference to wireless microphones,” the company said in a press release. “Shure is also concerned that the Commission did not reserve an appropriate number of channels for flawless operation of wireless microphone equipment and did not address several important issues necessary to ensure a robust ‘geolocation’-based database for protection of large scale events, as the company had proposed.”

“While not unexpected, today’s FCC decision will greatly complicate the lives of wireless microphone users across the United States and negatively affect tens of millions of Americans listening to live and broadcast events,” said Mark Brunner, Shure’s senior director, Global Public and Industry Relations. 

“In over four years of activity, including numerous written comments, technical submissions to and meetings with the FCC, Shure has highlighted that wireless microphones, monitor systems, and intercoms are essential production tools in modern music, theater, broadcast, sports, corporate, hotel, convention, education, and house of worship environments. Often supported by their representatives in Congress, these communities have voiced their concerns throughout this proceeding.”

NAMM will continue to monitor this issue and report back to the Membership and music products consumers.