Capitol Hill Negotiations on a second large COVID-19 relief legislation effectively broke down August 7. While the President responded with several stop-gap executive actions, both parties seem to recognize relief legislation is urgently needed and there is speculation that some kind of deal will be cut by mid-September. In the meantime, with the Senate technically … Continue Reading
In late 2015, major wireless microphone manufacturers requested that the FCC “reconsider” various mostly-technical rules that it had adopted as part of a wide-ranging strategy to reallocate spectrum for wireless microphones. (We’ve written about recent regulatory changes for wireless mics here, here and here.) The Commission now has responded via an Order aimed at fine-tuning … Continue Reading
A fixed TV database device in Ecuador ... or the mid-Atlantic? Yes indeed, according to the white space database - prompting the NAB to suggest that it's time to tighten things up.… Continue Reading
Google has filed its report on the trial of its modified white space database administration system. Now you've got a chance to comment on it.… Continue Reading
Of the ten FCC-approved coordinators eligible to provide access to the white space database, Spectrum Bridge, Inc. and Telcordia Technologies, Inc. have successfully completed their tests and are authorized to support white space devices nationwide, while Google and now Key Bridge Global are in the test preparation phase.… Continue Reading
Unlicensed "white space" devices, which operate in locally vacant TV spectrum, rely on a database of other users to avoid causing interference. The FCC has approved ten coordinators to provide access to the database.… Continue Reading
Touted by advocates as "Wi-Fi on steroids," TV Band Devices can now boot up in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, and North Carolina. The FCC expects to extend authorization nationwide by mid-January.… Continue Reading
When the FCC established rules for TV Band Devices, it required them to avoid interfering with other equipment operating on TV frequencies. The most populous of those, by far, are the wireless microphones that are ubiquitous in TV, stage, and film production.… Continue Reading
If you're thinking about filing comments in response to the FCC's request for input relative to wireless microphones, heads up - deadlines have now been set.… Continue Reading
Despite the shrinking spectrum for wireless microphones, we can't do without them - at least so long as we want good audio in our movies, TV, and stage shows. Even the FCC has implicitly acknowledged these devices are indispensable.… Continue Reading
We assume the pace of approvals will pick up. At the current rate, it will probably take until the year 2797 before white space systems are fully deployed.… Continue Reading
All of these rules control only a limited deployment in Wilmington, NC. But with the rules approaching final form, and more databases coming on line, white space devices may finally take the big step from PowerPoint to reality.… Continue Reading
