FCC Shouldn't Impair Wireless Mic Spectrum, NAB, RTDNA, Broadcasters Say

The incentive auction order's provision of 4 MHz of spectrum in the duplex gap for wireless mic use would lessen newsgatherers' ability to cover breaking news, said representatives from NAB, the Radio Television Digital News Association, CBS, Time Warner, 21st Century Fox and Viacom in a meeting Monday with Commissioner Michael O’Rielly, said an ex parte filing posted in docket 12-268 Thursday. That spectrum provision is also endangered by plans to repack TV stations into the duplex gap, the TV and content representatives said. “As a result, the last vestige of dedicated UHF wireless microphone spectrum will disappear with no plan for a short- or long-term home.” The FCC needs to find new bands for wireless mics, and change any policies that would interfere with or impair wireless mic use in the duplex gap, the filing said.