Spectrum/FCC Update 01/20/2016 Criss Niemann
470 MHz More Changes Coming 470-476 14 • • • • 476-482 15 482-488 16 488-494 Must be completed by 2022 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 TV stations that participate share auction $ FCC plans to auction more TV band to carriers 17 494-500 18 500-506 19 506-512 20 512-518 21 Analog TV 518-524 22 524-530 23 DTV 530-536 24 536-542 25 542-548 26 548-554 27 554-560 28 560-566 29 566-572 30 572-578 31 578-584 32 584-590 33 590-596 34 596-602 35 602-608 36 608-614 Radio Astronomy 37 614-620 38 620-626 39 626-632 40 632-638 41 638-644 42 DTV ??? 644-650 43 650-656 44 656-662 45 662-668 46 668-674 47 674-680 48 680-686 698 MHz 49 686-692 50 Analog TV 692-698 51 698-704 52 704-710 53 New Services 710-716 54 716-722 55 722-728 56 728-734 57 734-740 58 740-746 59 746-752 60 752-758 61 758-764 62 764-770 63 Y T E F A S 770-776 64 776-782 65 782-788 66 788-794 67 806 MHz 794-800 68 Y T E F A S 800-806 69
Incentive Auction Process Reverse Auction Forward Auction Repacking TV stations entertain Carriers bid $ on bids to change/share Stations are moved to channel OR go dark new channels vacated spectrum for $ How much spectrum? Which spectrum? When?
Auction Timeline May 15, 2014 – R&O Approved March 29, 2016 – Auction Begins Q3(ish), 2016 – Channel Reassignment Notice Issued 2019(ish) – End of 39 Month Transition for “Repacking”
Possible Auction Outcomes 600 MHz Band MHz
White Space Devices • Broadband “Wi-Fi” – Rural internet access • 2 Types – Fixed & Portable • WSD can operate in current open UFH spectrum • WSD are unlicensed devices
Review - Wireless Mic License Eligibility • Broadcasters Any number of • Educational TV • Cable networks wireless mics • TV & Film Production • Theaters Venues and Sound • Houses of Worship Companies • Convention Centers NEW RULES AS OF 2014 • Theme parks (50+ channels) • Educational Centers • Government Locations
Part-74 Licensee advantages • Ability to register against WSD interference • Ability to transmit up to 250mW • Co-channel operation allowed, if indoor received signal strength is < -85 dBm • Opportunity to operate in newly available spectrum
WM Operation in Post-Auction 600 MHz Band ”Duplex Gap” and “Guard Bands” Duplex Gap Guard Band Duplex Gap Guard Band Guard Bands 6 MHz Unlicensed + Licensed WM Unlicensed and (Shared with WSDs) Licensed WM (shared with WSDs) 4 MHz Licensed WM (WSDs Must Leave a 3 MHz gap on (no WSDs) either side of TV 37 – see next slide)
TV37 Guard Bands (if needed) -- a potential exclusive WM spectrum opportunity Lower 3 MHz Guard Band Channel 37 Upper 3 MHz Guard Band WSD, Medical Telemetry and Bottom 1 MHz Top 1 MHz Lower 2 MHz Segment Radio Astronomy only - no Upper 2 MHz Segment Segment Segment microphones No WSD No WSD No WSD No WSD No Microphones Microphones Microphones No Microphones Guard Band Guard Bands Duplex Gap
New Homes for Licensed Wireless Microphones – 941–960 MHz – Coordinated with SBE • Expands eligibility to all part 74 users licensees • Expands former Shure X band (944-952 MHz) – 1.4 GHz (1435-1525 MHz) • Managed by AFTRCC aviation testing authority • Special permission required – 3.5 GHz – Coordinated with SBE – 7 GHz – Coordinated with SBE • Two 25MHz bands
Additional News • Petitions filed in December regarding the new rules – See comments in Active Dockets on FCC website (Search on ECFS) 14-165 and 14-166 – Commission expected to make final determination on petitions prior to Auction • Wireless Microphone Industry aligned in comments
Additional Info • Deadline for broadcasters to indicate participation was January 12 – Info not public • Opening bid prices are public – Example - WCBS (NY) $900M
Milestones • March 29 Auction Begins • Q3(ish) FCC issues Channel Reassignment • Immediately following Channel Reassignment, 39 month Repack/Transition – Wireless mics legal to operate, but – If new spectrum owner “commences operations” (begins testing), wireless mics must stop operating – Users should check databases weekly to see if/where new services are operating • Wireless mics must stop operating in all of the auctioned spectrum after 39 mo. repack
Spectrum Database • https://keybridgeglobal.com • www.spectrumbridge.com • www.telcordia.com
Moving forward • Investigate license eligibility • Choose wireless mics with: – Widest tuning range – Best spectral efficiency • Consider other frequency bands • No need to discard 600 MHz equipment
Moving forward • Shure has been proactive in discontinuing affected product bands • Shure remains committed to providing accurate and timely information in support of our customers and our products and is actively engaged with the FCC to ensure continuity of wireless microphone operation to the greatest extent possible.
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