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Wireless Deadline—Public Comment February 22

When the FCC announced on January 15 that all professional wireless users had to be out of the 700MHz spectrum by June 12, 2010, it wasn’t unexpected, but it did set in motion a series of deadlines for public comment, licensing and database creation/monitoring. The first deadline, for public comment on the expansion of Part 74 license eligibility, is February 22.

When the FCC announced on January 15 that all professional wireless users
had to be out of the 700MHz spectrum by June 12, 2010, it wasn’t
unexpected, but it did set in motion a series of deadlines for public
comment, licensing and database creation/monitoring. The first deadline, for
public comment on the expansion of Part 74 license eligibility, is February
22.

Since 1977, the FCC has recognized two categories of professional wireless
use: broadcast and motion picture and television program producers. Under
consideration is an expansion of that eligibility to other professional
uses, such as theater, houses of worship, system contracting and many
others. This Public Comment period is designed to gather information on who
should be eligible for a license and who shouldn’t. Later it will be
determined how those licenses will be entered into a geo-location database
and who will be in charge of monitoring licensed users.

Watch a video on Mark Brunner of Shure on the importance of filing Public
Comment in the next three weeks.

Shure Microphones, along with other manufacturers, have spent millions of
dollars lobbying Washington and urging support for license expansion in the
wake of the 700MHz announcement. All professional wireless users are
encouraged to submit, on company letterhead details on the types of use, the
number of mics and wireless systems of all types, and the support for
license expansion under Part 74. Comments may be submitted to
fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Refer to Proceeding 10-24. Shure has offered
to answer questions regarding the filing process through a special e-mail
address at [email protected].

“Right now, the FCC is aware of the hundreds of systems at a U2 concert or
the tremendous needs of the Super Bowl,” says Shure’s Chris Lyons. “They are
also aware of the thousands of single users out there. Who they really need
to hear from are the thousands of operators who fall in the middle, the
small theaters or houses of worship which may use dozens of systems.”

Wireless users are further encouraged to write their representatives in
Congress in support of House Bill HR4353, introduced by Rep. Bobby Rush of
Illinois and currently working its way through the legislative process. The
National Football League has already signed on in support.

Read sister publication S&VC‘s FCC Frequently Asked Questions.

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