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Shure Responds To FCC White Spaces Report

By Clive Young. New York (October 17, 2008)--Shure, Inc. has spearheaded the pro audio industry's fight against proposed use of 'white space' fequencies by communications devices, arguing that such a move will create potentially catastrophic results for wireless microphone users. Earlier this week, the FCC released its report on tests conducted with prototype devices, indicating that while the technologies didn't work particularly well, they were sufficient for a 'proof of concept' that revamped versions could work down the line. While many industry watchers felt the FCC's backing of the devices is inevitable, the commission will not vote on a ruling based on the report's recommendations until early next month. Given what the potential devices might mean for broadcasters and wireless mic users, Shure is understandably concerned about this impending decision.

By Clive Young.
New York (October 17, 2008)–Shure, Inc. has spearheaded the pro audio industry’s fight against proposed use of ‘white space’ fequencies by communications devices, arguing that such a move will create potentially catastrophic results for wireless microphone users. Earlier this week, the FCC released its report on tests conducted with prototype devices, indicating that while the technologies didn’t work particularly well, they were sufficient for a ‘proof of concept’ that revamped versions could work down the line. While many industry watchers felt the FCC’s backing of the devices is inevitable, the commission will not vote on a ruling based on the report’s recommendations until early next month. Given what the potential devices might mean for broadcasters and wireless mic users, Shure is understandably concerned about this impending decision.

Contacted by Pro Sound News, Mark Brunner, Senior Director of Industry and Public Relations at Shure, responded via email:

“The FCC has released the results of its testing of prototype White Space devices. The results indicate that spectrum sensing technology is not yet reliable as a means of preventing interference to DTV broadcasts and wireless microphone transmissions. We are concerned that the FCC apparently intends to move forward with its deployment anyway.

The FCC Commissioners will vote on a final White Spaces ruling at their meeting in Nashville on November 4th. We are under the impression that this ruling:

– will allow portable devices to transmit at power levels up to 100 milliwatts;

– will allow portable spectrum sensing as the primary means of interference avoidance;

– will set aside only 2 ‘protected’ TV channels (12 MHz) for wireless microphone operation;

– will not allow wireless microphone users to register in the protected-channel database to obtain temporary protection for large-scale wireless microphone use at major events.

Shure continues to communicate the needs of wireless microphone users to the Commission.”

Shure
www.shure.com

FCC Report: Evaluation of the Performance of Prototype TV-Band White Space Devices Phase II
hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-2243A3.pdf

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