TECHNICAL FOCUS: SOUND Copyright Lighting&Sound America August 2014 http://www.lightingandsoundamerica.com/lsa.html Wireless Spectrum Update By: Mel Lambert Critical changes in RF bands will result from the FCC s planned Incentive Auction of 600 MHz frequencies 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 related 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 dramatically reduced, with migration into VHF and other bands a likely development within the coming year. This is because, unlike the mandated 700MHz auction, Congress is encouraging 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 predicted 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 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. 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 produce the thousands of large-scale events, from football games to political conventions, that routinely require as much as 300 or even 350MHz of wireless frequency spectrum, stresses Roger Charlesworth, executive director of The DTV Audio Group/DTVAG, which has been holding weekly conference calls on spectrum issues. These events routinely consume the entire currently available UHF spectrum, 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, 58 August 2014 Lighting&Sound America
in addition to finding new spectrum, some amount of UHF should be protected for wireless microphone operations during breaking news events and other purposes, states Charlesworth. As an industry it is critical that we work with the FCC to identify the spectrum in which professional users can operate in the future, while also recognizing that it will be in significantly smaller allocations of less-desirable bands than are available currently; we must be prepared to be flexible in sharing underutilized slices of spectrum with existing incumbent users, Charlesworth stresses. Regarding the remaining UHF band, not only does the FCC plan to eliminate the protections afforded the pro audio industry during the White Space debate, but after repacking there is unlikely to be much white space available, he says. Details of Incentive Auction and Spectrum Plans Such active lobbying was instigated in anticipation of the FCC s open meeting on May 15 at which it was scheduled to issue a Report and Order that spelled out the commission s Incentive Auction and Spectrum Plan for the UHF band. If successful, the planned auction will reallocate the UHF band to give priority to unlicensed users and leave very little, if any, spectrum for wireless mics, says Louis Libin, of Broad Comm, a leading wireless coordinator. Despite good lobbying, the UHF band is highly prized real estate, targeted fiercely by the mobile-phone industry. Wireless mics will be left with very little spectrum all shared. Once the FCC opens up new bands for wireless mics, there will need to be a crash program to ensure that all the operations we have grown accustomed to will continue to be available to us. Clearly many of our arguments have fallen on deaf ears at the FCC. The party of industry delegates that visited Washington earlier this year, in addition to Charlesworth and Libin, The Shure ULX-D Digital Wireless System is described as offering new standards for spectral efficiency, with simultaneously operable systems per MHz in a crowded UHF band. The system comprises, from left: ULXD1 wireless body-pack transmitter; ULXD2 handheld wireless microphone transmitter with choice of mic capsules; ULXD4 digital wireless receiver; ULXD4D dual-channel digital wireless receiver; and ULXD4Q quadchannel digital wireless receiver. comprised: Mark Brunner, Shure s senior director of global brand management; Joe Ciaudelli, chief US correspondent of spectrum affairs with Sennheiser USA; Henry Cohen, senior RF engineer/designer and FCC liaison with CP Communications; Jackie Green, VP of R&D/engineering with Audio-Technica US; Peter Larsson, cofounder and GM with Broadcast Sports; Brooks Schroeder, senior coordinator with the Frequency Coordination Group; and Karl Winkler, director of business development with Lectrosonics. According to Brunner, During this meeting we discussed several issues affecting wireless microphones and complementary systems, including the fact that the UHF band is critically important to support wireless microphone operations in professional productions. Users and coordinators are facing serious shortages of UHF spectrum needed to support live events. Due to interference and propagation attributes, for decades the UHF band has been the preferred spectrum choice for manufacturers and professional users. Wireless microphone technology is evolving to offer increased spectral efficiency and to make use of non-uhf spectrum suitable for specific applications, with advanced coordination techniques to increase frequency re-use. For longerterm planning purposes, we will continue to explore flexible uses in other spectrum bands that have the potential to support some wireless-microphone operations. In planning for the loss of available UHF spectrum, the group discussed how the two reserve UHF channels dedicated to wireless microphones in each market could have provided critical clean spectrum to professional users, and the need to preserve two channels in the UHF and/or high VHF bands. (In the end, the group lost part of this particular argument, since the two reserve channels are absent from the FCC s upcoming repacking plan.) We also discussed rules that would permit professional-use wireless microphones to operate in the proposed guard bands and mid-band gap in the 600MHz range, Winkler recalls, with priority through geolocation databases that would enable users to access expanded frequencies for the duration of the event. Also on the agenda was the need to align VHF wireless mic rules with service rules applicable to UHF systems, and hence make VHF a more suitable band for www.lightingandsoundamerica.com August 2014 59
TECHNICAL FOCUS: SOUND Expected changes to UHF spectrum following FCC s repacking schedule, showing guard bands that might be available for wireless systems. Exactly how much of the spectrum will be repurposed will remain unknown until the FCC s Incentive Auction in mid-2015. pro audio use. We also highlighted the fact that current Part 74 rules are grossly out of date, adds Winkler, and should be revised to allow all professional wireless microphone operations not just broadcasters to be eligible for such licensing. This change would ensure that wireless microphones used in theatrical, touring, concert and other productions would be covered by a Part 74 license, enabling flexible and efficient use of the geolocation database technologies 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 predict this will occur until after 2016. We reiterate our general recommendation to customers that require UHF equipment to buy new systems that can operate below 600MHz. The importance of wireless mic operation is widely recognized within the FCC; we are working closely with [the commission], industry groups, and [Sennheiser s] development department to refine a long-term plan. Bottom line: The future will include wireless mics. And while the 600MHz band is destined to be repurposed through the FCC auction to provide additional spectrum space for mobile broadband providers, we have petitioned the FCC and Congress to mandate that winners of auctioned spectrum compensate mic owners for the replace- Graphic courtesy of Sennheiser USA/Spectrum Affairs. Call a Sales Pro Today! MOVING LIGHTS LED SPOT & WASH FIXTURES ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS CONSOLES FOLLOW SPOTS Call 800-356-5844 or shop fullcompass.com Leading The Industry For Over 35 Years Follow Us Request your FREE 540-page catalog
ment of equipment that they will not be able to use after spectrum repacking, Ciaudelli states. Additionally, the working group has encouraged the FCC to allow wireless users to continue operating in auctioned 600MHz spectrum as long as possible until new services come online, and to identify additional spectrum space for additional, long-term wireless microphone use. Possible Solutions: New Technologies and Alternate Spectrums Even without the upcoming spectrum changes, users and coordinators are facing serious shortages of UHF spectrum needed to support live events, Lectrosonics Winkler considers. Due to propagation attributes, the UHF band has been the preferred spectrum choice for wireless microphone manufacturers and professional users. Manufacturers, frequency coordinators, and users have responded to the continuing shrinkage of clear spectrum by working together on [various] strategies, driving technology development to increase efficiencies and encouraging use of non-uhf spectrum suitable for some applications. One targeted range has been the 2.4GHz spectrum, which currently is shared with Wi-Fi and other devices. While this band suffers from a reduced range of operation and significant congestion, 2.4GHz devices can often frequency-hop and work well despite competing with other systems. DECT or Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications also is available, despite offering only a 10MHz bandwidth in North America and 200MHz in Europe, although with time-slice allocation multiple devices can function together; in relatively quiet RF environments, it might be possible to use up to 40 wireless channels. In early June, the FCC, in its Second Report and Order, expanded Part 74 license eligibility to include professional sound companies and owners and operators of large venues that routinely use 50 or more wireless microphones, where the use of wireless microphones is an integral part of the major productions or events they host. This decision will gateway the development of professional highband VHF systems for our industry, despite requiring larger antenna sizes; suitable hardware could be available within the year. (Interestingly, in FCC 14-62 the commission notes the receipt of numerous comments regarding the revision of Part 74, including correspondence from trade magazines, manufacturers, and system operators.) Systems that operate in the 944-952MHz range are currently available from several manufacturers for use by licensed broadcasters, while others are working on new systems; despite minor propagation problems, such hardware could cover a number of RF applications. Other bands under review include the 1.785-1.805GHz, 3.550-3.650GHz, and 6.875-7.125GHz ranges; product time-to- Post-Apocalypse Theater Sound Only two things will survive... «Scan here to learn more. lectrosonics.com or 1-800-821-1121 Made in the USA by a Bunch of Fanatics. In Canada, call 877-753-2876 www.lightingandsoundamerica.com August 2014 61
TECHNICAL FOCUS: SOUND The FCC Incentive Auction According to a briefing paper prepared by Sennheiser, in mid-2015 the FCC plans to hold a Spectrum Incentive Auction that will transfer spectrum currently allocated for over-the-air TV service to mobile broadband. The auction offers TV broadcasters the opportunity to relinquish or share their current spectrum licenses, on a voluntary basis, in exchange for a portion of revenue generated by the auction. Broadcasters now operating on channels within the 600MHz range, who elect to stay on the air, will be moved to different TV channels during the subsequent UHF repacking process, which is expected to take up to 39 months to complete, meaning that wireless mic operation in the 600MHz range is expected to remain unchanged through 2016. The amount of spectrum to be repurposed will not be known until after the Incentive Auction, but could be as much as 120MHz, starting at 698MHz 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 several years, or until the auction process is reactivated. Nevertheless, operators of RF systems are being advised to prepare for the likelihood of reallocation 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 and the Incentive Auction take place. Wireless mics are slated to be allowed to operate in some pockets of the 600MHz, within the planned guard bands and duplex gap. The FCC will place a guard band at the end of the repurposed spectrum and in some scenarios, another one above Channel 37 in addition to a duplex gap between blocks intended for up- and down-links; these guard bands and duplex gap will act as buffers to protect the two blocks from interfering with each other, and adjacent services. Due to out-of-band emissions from the up- and down-link blocks, the risk of mic interference operating in these buffer zones may be high. While the reallocation will be largely uniform nationwide, it may still vary by market. The FCC plans to start from TV Channel 51 (698MHz) and move downwards but, because of the auction s voluntary nature, it is still unclear how much of the spectrum will be reallocated; it could be as far as 578MHz. Currently, two TV channels in each market are reserved for wireless mic/iem use; however, they will not exist after the repacking process. The commission has also stated in FCC 14-62: The Incentive Auction Report and Order requires wireless microphones to vacate the repurposed UHF spectrum by the end of the post-auction transition period, which will be 39 months after the release of the Channel Reassignment Public Notice, and expressly condition any new LPAS licenses [for Low Power Auxiliary Stations, which includes wireless mics, IEMs, and intercoms with a range of around 300'] granted between now and that date, including licenses granted to newly eligible licensees, on the requirement to cease operating in the repurposed spectrum no later than that date. Following the post-auction transition period, such licensees will only be able to operate in the bands allocated for TV broadcasting. market could be between three to five years, if there is sufficient industry demand and propagation difficulties can be solved. Industry Reactions to Spectrum Changes T. Richard Fitzgerald, a theatrical sound designer and currently CEO of New York-based Sound Associates, says that the industry will need to fit and squeeze to accommodate the proposed spectrum changes, but that on Broadway, with more than 2,500 RF channels in use we ve learned to be good neighbors. We always encourage operators to share their frequency selections [with nearby theatres and operators] and be fully aware of their systems propagation attributes whether or not the signals will pass through curtains and walls and cause interference. Fitzgerald also serves as a technical consultant to The Broadway League. For us, the 900MHz band is [designed] for semi-professional use and is not suitable for Broadway; 700MHz is also less attractive because of propagation problems, Fitzgerald states. And 5.1GHz won t be appropriate because of antenna size and short propagation ranges. VHF has saturated bandwidth particularly from taxi cabs and is not nearly as stable as UHF bands. We are the most critical of users; we expect high quality from the lowest possible number of output watts. Henry Cohen, from CP Communications, is a senior RF engineer/designer who has worked closely with the FCC on current and previous spectrum changes. In the long term, the wireless paradigm will change, he considers. It will be rough for the next few years if there is limited spectrum available in shared spaces and/or limited equipment to take advantage of the reduced RF spectrum. While there is no hard cutoff planned for the 600MHz band, it will take 6-10 months after completion 62 August 2014 Lighting&Sound America
NEW! Various industry representatives visited Washington during early February to meet the FCC. From left: Joe Ciaudelli, chief US correspondent of spectrum affairs with Sennheiser USA; Jackie Green, VP of R&D/engineering with Audio-Technica US; Mark Brunner, Shure s senior director of global brand management; and Karl Winkler, director of business development with Lectrosonics. of the FCC s auction for the new [wireless broadband] systems to come online, and maybe 12-18 months for people to leave the band in urban areas, with rural users exiting maybe 6-12 months after that. In terms of recommendations for future users, the VHF spectrum is available. If users need to purchase new hardware, my advice is to buy into the 500MHz band, because it will be usable until at least 2016. When the dust has settled [from the FCC auction] then I d expect new products to be made available, as well as additional spectrum. I m confident that, with three-tofive-year development schedules, manufacturers can develop wireless products that will work within the available spectrum space. But with our shows getting larger and more complex, being able to operate more channels in increasingly crowded frequency bands will be challenging. No single band will be our industry s salvation. We need to help policy makers recognize that the reduction in pro audio spectrum space is important, stresses Shure s Brunner. In anticipation of the FCC s Incentive Auction, we will need to consider alternative bands and alternative technologies. We remain optimistic about the future, but need time to develop new RF systems that work on these new frequencies. We are encouraged by the commission s recognition that wireless microphones are critical to services such as newsgathering while also playing an essential role in the public s day-to-day experience and enjoyment of the performing arts, sports, cultural, religious, and business events. In fact, much of the content for which wireless broadband services are used for delivery requires increasingly creative and intensive use of wireless microphones! We will continue to investigate the 2.4GHz and upper VHF bands, states Audio-Technica s Green. VHF systems will work at 50mW power levels for Part 74 licensed users; for many applications there is no need to run at 250mW. Propagation might be a problem, but can be overcome with anten- Save Hours on Your Production Setup Minimal cable requirements. A remarkably intuitive design. And seamless system linking over IP or fiber. HelixNet Partyline delivers intercom simplicity and performance at their finest. Set it up with incredible ease, rapidly configure the system, and save hours to focus on what truly matters delivering the best productions to your audience. NEW HKB-2X Speaker Station, S-Mount Enclosure, and HRM-4X Remote Station are available to complete your HelixNet system. www.clearcom.com Copyright 2014. Clear-Com, LLC. All rights reserved. Clear-Com, the Clear-Com logo and HelixNet are registered trademarks of HM Electronics, Inc.
TECHNICAL FOCUS: SOUND Changes to the UHF wireless spectrum from 470MHz - 806MHz, following the introduction of DTV services and FCC frequency auctions. na modeling software. Systems for the 5GHz and 6-10GHz bands are not as simple to innovate, but we have a head start with a successful 6.350GHz UWB product already on the market. We are looking closely at the 940-961MHz bands, in addition to the several regions in the 1GHz - 2GHz spectrum that will allow us to coordinate with European markets. We also hope that the FCC moves quickly and efficiently to identify new frequency bands, in order to minimize negative market impacts due to product longevity/spectrum uncertainty, and also give wireless microphone manufacturers time to develop additional new products. We have developed systems in alternate bands above UHF and already offer some of them in Europe, adds Sennheiser s Ciaudelli. Although the propagation characteristics and operating range are not as optimal as UHF, they work quite well. While there s no denying that 600MHz is the beachfront property of the RF spectrum, with wonderful propagation and low power requirements, we are looking at developing new products in various bands. However, we cannot start a manufacturing line for products in bands that we think the FCC will open up for us. Regarding the issue of Part 74 license eligibility, we are very pleased with the commission s ruling to expand it to include sound companies and venues that routinely use 50 mics or more. This will allow many more professional operators the ability to directly reserve spectrum for their productions in the database system, providing safeguards from unlicensed devices. We are certainly asking the FCC to change the rules so that we can share certain spectrum space with other users, offers Lectrosonics Winkler. Everything from VHF to 10GHz should be open territory for broadcasters, live sound users, and White Space devices. But we are seeing that the spectrum is too valuable and there is very little left for professional audio applications. Of course, some of these higher-frequency bands will require fairly radical new designs and new ways of operating these systems in order that they work as well as what we are using now. The FCC has given the pro audio community several tools and protections to help us avoid interference from the devices with which we currently share spectrum, says Frequency Coordination Group s Schroeder. As a community, we need to do our part by using these tools; every Part 15 wireless mic user should be using the Unlicensed Wireless Microphone Registration System, and Part 74 users should register for protection with a White Space database administrator. A lot of hard work has been spent to keep our access to a clean spectrum; we need to show the FCC that we re using it. Because the sandbox is getting smaller, we need to show we can share it. We need to continue our push for accelerated action on behalf of the FCC for replacement spectrum space for professional applications, summarizes DTV Audio Group s Charlesworth. If the auction is successful and the repacking of spectrum space as predicted is aggressive, we will be left with little or no space in the 600MHz band. Currently, NBC in New York uses some 640 RF channels, while Fox Broadcasting uses close to 440. At the very minimum, our request is that the FCC grants us exclusive use of the guard bands for professional wireless mics, to allow the use of legacy equipment for newsgathering operations. Although those several dozen frequencies will not be enough to cover everything we need to do, at least we can continue to use our 600MHz systems particularly IEMs, which are critical quality and use lowpower receivers until we see which way the future lays. Mel Lambert has been intimately involved with production industries on both sides of the Atlantic for more years than he cares to remember. He is now principal of Media&Marketing, a Los Angeles-based consulting service for the professional audio industry, and can be reached at mel.lambert@mediaand MARKETING.com; +1/818.558-3924. Graphic courtesy of Sennheiser USA/Spectrum Affairs. 64 August 2014 Lighting&Sound America