2017

FCC & 600 MHz Spectrum Update

Ben Escobedo – Sr. Market Development

VHF (30 MHz – 300 MHz)•First performance wireless microphones were VHF•Solid Performance•Long Antennas

Wireless Microphone Technology

LONG ANTENNAS!

UHF (300 MHz – 1 GHz)•Sweet spot of wireless range (power vs. distance)•Manageable antenna length•Excellent wave propagation•Common frequencies for most PRO wireless microphones

Wireless Microphone Technology

Axient Digital (pictured)

1.9 GHz (DECT) (1920 MHz to 1930 MHz in USA)•License-free operation in most parts of the world - DECT•Less wave propagation than UHF (due to short wave length)•Less channel count than UHF •Latency 10-19ms for most devices (Analog UHF = near zero latency)

Wireless Microphone Technology

2.4 GHz (300 MHz – 2.4 GHz)•License-free operation in most parts of the world•Short antenna length •Less wave propagation than UHF (due to short wave length)•Crowded band with many devices of all kinds (RF mics 6-12ch MAX ch count)

Wireless Microphone Technology

Global mobile data growth rate of 81% for 2013Video exceeds 50% of traffic for the first time2013 mobile data was 18X the total internet in 2000 Mobile devices exceed world’s population in 2014US Federal government is in a global competition to find and allocate new spectrum for mobile broadband

The Big Picture – Why?

T-Mobile Map – Active by November 1st

300 GHz

3 kHz MORE DISTANCE MORE

DATA BIGGER ANTENNA SMALLER

ANTENNA

300 MHz 3 GHz

Broadcast vs. Broadband

15%Watch TV antenna

64%Own a

Smartphone

1997: FCC begins the

process of DTV transition

January 2008: 700 MHz auction brings in $19.6B

November 2008: “White Space” rules adopted

June 2010: DTV transition

completed

May 2014: FCC adopts Incentive Auction Report &

Order

UHF Spectrum Reallocation: A Brief History

FCC UHF Incentive Auction

• Congress passes “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. Action

• More spectrum for mobile broadband• Fund the nationwide public safety network• Put remainder in treasuryGoals• Voluntary “Incentive Auction” of spectrum relinquished by TV

broadcasters• Proceeds sharedTactic

Reverse AuctionTV stations bid to

change/share channel OR go

dark for $

Incentive Auction Stages

RepackingStations are moved

to new channels

Forward AuctionCarriers bid $ on open spectrum

Auction Timeline

R&O approved May 15, 2014

Auction begins March 29, 2016

Channel Reassignment Public Notice: 3 to 6 months post-auction

39-month transition for “repacking”

Possible Auction Outcomes

600 MHz Band

MHz

Auction Stages 1 - 3

June 29 - Stage 1 Reverse Auction Complete: 126 MHz, $86 billion

August 20 - Stage 1 Forward Auction Stopped: $23 billion

September 13 - Stage 2 Reverse Auction Complete: 114 MHz, $54.5 billion

October 19 - Stage 2 Forward Auction begins (and ends!): $21.5 billion

Nov. 1 – Stage 3 Reverse Auction Begins: 108 MHz, $40.3 billion

Auction Stages 3 - 4

December 5 - Stage 3 Forward Auction begins (and ends), $19.6 billion

January 13, 2017 - Stage 4 Reverse Auction Complete: 84 MHz, $10.05 billion

January 18, 2017 - Stage 4 Forward Auction Begins: minimum requirements met!

February 10, 2017 – Forward auction ends, $19.6 billion

Spring 2017 – Channel Reassignment public notice issued

Final Auction Outcome: 84 MHz

Duplex GapGuard Band

614 MHz 698 MHz

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

470 MHz 698 MHz

Public Safety (13 cities)

UHF TV Band BEFORE Transition

Licensed Wireless Mics (250 mW max)

Unlicensed Wireless Mics (50 mW max)

White Space Devices

TV Channels

Channel 37 (608-614 MHz) is reserved for use by Radio Astronomy and Wireless Medical Telemetry Systems

Licensed Wireless Mics (250 mW max)

Unlicensed Wireless Mics (50 mW max)

Wireless microphones should not be used on these channels in these cities, where they are allocated for Public Safety communications:Boston (14, 16)Chicago (14, 15)Cleveland (14, 15)Dallas (16)Detroit (15, 16)Houston (17)Los Angeles (14, 16, 20)Miami (14)New York (14, 15, 16)Philadelphia (19, 20)Pittsburgh (14, 18)San Francisco (16, 17)Washington DC (17, 18)

White Space Devices

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

GB Mobile Broadband Duplex

Gap Mobile Broadband

470 MHz 614 MHz 698 MHz

Guard Band

Licensed WM

Unlicensed WM

616 MHz 653 MHz 663 MHz

Duplex Gap

Licensed WM

Licensed WM

Unlicensed WM

White Space Devices

NEW UHF TV BAND 600 MHz BAND

Public Safety (13 cities)

UHF TV Band AFTER Transition

Licensed Wireless Mics (250 mW max)

Unlicensed Wireless Mics (50 mW max)

White Space Devices

TV Channels

614-616 MHz20 mW max

653-657 MHz20 mW max

657-663 MHz20 mW max

Channel 37 (608-614 MHz) is reserved for use by Radio Astronomy, Wireless Medical Telemetry Systems, and White Space Devices

Wireless microphones should not be used on these channels in these cities, where they are allocated for Public Safety communications:Boston (14, 16)Chicago (14, 15)Cleveland (14, 15)Dallas (16)Detroit (15, 16)Houston (17)Los Angeles (14, 16, 20)Miami (14)New York (14, 15, 16)Philadelphia (19, 20)Pittsburgh (14, 18)San Francisco (16, 17)Washington DC (17, 18)

Analog TV Analog TV2009

New ServicesDTV DTV

“Core TV Band” “700 MHz Band”

SAFETY

SAFETY

698 MHz 806 MHz470 MHz

S A F E T YWIRELESS MICS

Spectrum Update

Dow

nlin

k

DTV

“Core TV Band” “700 MHz Band”

SAFETY

SAFETY

608 MHz 806 MHz470 MHz

S A F E T YWIRELESS MICS U

plin

k 2009New Services

“600 MHz Band”

Spectrum Update – 600 MHz

Radio

Astronomy

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

470-476

476-482

482-488

488-494

494-500

500-506

506-512

512-518

518-524

524-530

530-536

536-542

542-548

548-554

554-560

560-566

566-572

572-578

578-584

584-590

590-596

596-602

602-608

608-614

614-620

620-626

626-632

632-638

638-644

644-650

650-656

656-662

662-668

668-674

674-680

680-686

686-692

692-698

Dow

nlin

kDTV

“Core TV Band”

608 MHz470 MHz

S A F E T Y

WIRELESS MICS

Upl

ink

Spectrum Update

Guard Band & Duplex Gap

3 A B C D E F G 11 A B C D E F G

DuplexGap

Guard Band

DuplexGap

Guard Band

Guard Licensed Unlicensed

652-653

653-657 657-663

1MHz 4MHz 6MHz

Unlicensed

Guard

614-616

616-617

2MHz 1MHz

DO

WN

LIN

K

UP

LIN

K

TV37

Spectrum Update

TV Stations

Licensed Wireless Mics

Unlicensed Wireless Mics & TV Band Devices

Licensing - The New Hierarchy

Expands License EligibilityContinues unlicensed operationCommits to further proceeding for additional spectrum

▪ GN Docket Nos. 14-166 and 12-268; FCC 14-145 “Spectrum Access for Wireless Microphone Operations”

Co-channel operation allowed, if indoor received signal strength < -85 dBm

Second R&O: Wireless Mics

Wireless Mic License Eligibility

• Broadcasters• Educational TV• Cable networks• TV & Film Production

Any number of wireless mics

• Theaters• Houses of Worship• Convention Centers• Theme parks• Educational Centers• Government Locations

Venues and Sound Companies (50+

channels)

Ability to register for protected channels in the TV bands (prevents WSD interference)Ability to transmit up to 250 mWMore access to additional spectrum opportunities outside the TV band

Part 74 Licensee Advantages

GN Docket Nos. 14-166 and 12-268; FCC 14-145 “Spectrum Access for Wireless Microphone Operations”Unlicensed Users▪ Unlicensed Bands (900/2400 MHz)▪ 1920 – 1930 MHz (PCS band)▪ Back to VHF!Licensed Users▪ 944 – 952 MHz

• Expanded eligibility (all licensed users – not just broadcast!)• Add adjacent bands (941 – 960 MHz)

▪ 1.4 GHz (1435 – 1525 MHz)• Managed by AFTRCC• Special Permission required

▪ 3.5 GHz▪ 7 GHz

New Homes for Mics

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

VHF TV

174 MHz 216 MHz

900 MHz

902 MHz 928 MHz

Wireless Mic Spectrum After Transition

2.4 GHz

2400 MHz 2483.5 MHz

1.9 GHz

1920 MHz 1930 MHz

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

UHF TV

470 MHz 614 MHz

941.5

MHz

952 M

Hz95

2.850

MHz

956.2

50 M

Hz95

6.450

MHz

959.8

50 M

Hz

Licensed Users Only

VHF (ULX-D and QLX-D)900 MHz (ULX-D and QLX-D)DECT (Microflex Wireless)2.4 GHz (GLX-D Advanced)AXIENT DIGITAL

More to come!

Shure Solutions

Don’t panic!Current owners of 600 MHz wireless:▪ Consult the databases (during transition) to determine spectrum availability▪ Consult with manufacturersPurchasing new wireless?▪ Consider staying below 614 MHz▪ Choose the most spectrally efficient wireless▪ Consider alternate frequency bands (where appropriate) Eligible users: get licensed!

What You Should Do

For more information:

Shure Incentive Auction Resource Centerhttp://www.shure.com/americas/incentive-auction-resource-center

Technical Support: www.shure.com/faq