Shure, NAB/Paramount Propose 'Path Forward' for Wireless Mic Technology

Shure, NAB and Paramount jointly proposed a “path forward” on the introduction of wireless multichannel audio system technologies for wireless mics. FCC commissioners approved an NPRM on WMAS last year, but the docket has been mostly quiet in recent months (see 2104220056). “Rules for WMAS systems should incorporate a sliding scale of power and bandwidth based on mode of application,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 21-115. “In addition to licensed WMAS operation with 6 MHz maximum bandwidth and 250 mW maximum power, unlicensed WMAS operation can also be permitted under this framework at narrower bandwidth and lower power in the UHF-TV band. By limiting unlicensed operations to narrow bandwidths, the impact on spectrum is expected to be similar to that of narrowband operations under practical operating conditions due to limitations caused by intermodulation distortion and channel spacing.” Under the proposed parameters, licensed-only use would be allowed at 250 mW with 6 MHz bandwidth. Licensed/unlicensed would be allowed at 100 mW power, 2 MHz bandwidth, in some cases, or at 50 mW on 1 MHz channels. “While this approach differs from both Shure’s initial proposal and NAB/Paramount’s responsive proposal, Shure and NAB/Paramount believe that this approach fairly balances the desire of wireless microphone users to employ WMAS and broadcasters’ need for assurance that they will be able to continue operating narrowband systems,” they said.