May 26, 2010

CHICAGO – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Washington, D.C., has issued a new rule that may affect use of some wireless microphones by congregations. The rule bans the use of wireless microphones or similar devices that operate in the 700 MHz Band no later than June 12, to avoid interference with fire and police departments now using the band.

The new rule affects wireless microphones or similar devices used by a host of businesses and organizations, such as churches, theaters, schools, conference centers, theme parks and musicians, according to an FCC consumer advisory.

Wireless microphones and similar devices that operate in the 700MHz Band must be tuned to another frequency or replaced, an FCC consumer advisory said. Wireless microphones or similar devices that operate outside the 700MHz Band are not affected, nor are microphones and similar devices with cords.

Wireless microphones are normally marked with the frequency the devices use.

The FCC announcement, including access to a list of microphones affected, is at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones/, on the Web.

The FCC advisory said that when these microphones were first designed, the frequencies they used were in between the frequencies that television stations used to broadcast television programs.

"With the completion of the digital television transition on June 12, 2009, television stations no longer use the frequencies between 698 and 806 MHz (the 700 MHz Band) for broadcast," the advisory said. "These frequencies are now being used by public safety entities (such as police, fire and emergency services) and by commercial providers of wireless services (such as wireless broadband services)."

Because the wireless microphones operating the 700MHz band can interfere with public safety and wireless consumer services, the FCC issued the rule to halt the use of wireless microphones and similar devices operating in this band.

The FCC advisory emphasized strict compliance with the new requirement. Violations of the rule may result in substantial fines, confiscation of the equipment, or criminal sanctions, including imprisonment, the FCC advisory said. –

The complete FCC consumer advisory is at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/wirelessmic_advisory.html, on the Web.

ELCA News Service