600MHz Wireless Microphones Banned
Transition out of the 600 MHz Band
In 2014, the FCC adopted rules to implement the broadcast television spectrum incentive auction, which reorganized the existing television band and repurposed a portion of the UHF television band for wireless broadband services for 600 MHz service licensees. See FCC 14-50. As a result, spectrum in the 617-652 MHz and 663-698 MHz bands was repurposed for wireless licensees. See DA 17-314. The spectrum that is used by these 600 MHz service licensees will no longer be available to wireless microphones after July 13, 2020. In addition, wireless microphone operations must cease earlier if such operations could cause harmful interference to any 600 MHz service licensee’s operations. In particular, wireless microphone users must cease operation in frequencies in any areas where a 600 MHz service licensee has commenced operations or is conducting its first field application testing. See FCC 15-140.
The FCC has provided for a transition period of up to 39 months to allow wireless microphone operators to obtain new equipment and transition out of the repurposed 600 MHz service band (617-652 MHz / 663-698 MHz). During the transition period, which ends on July 13, 2020, these operators may continue to access the spectrum that has been repurposed for 600 MHz service licensees under certain conditions. Specifically, wireless microphone users may operate on the 600 MHz service spectrum only if they do not cause harmful interference either to the existing broadcast television operations (which also must cease operating in the band no later than July 13, 2020) or to the 600 MHz service wireless licensees’ operations in the band. Wireless microphone users also must accept harmful interference from those broadcast television and 600 MHz service licensees. See FCC 15-100, FCC 15-99, FCC 15-140.
Wireless microphone users, whether licensed or unlicensed, may continue to operate on a secondary basis in the bands that continue to be available for, and used on a primary basis by, broadcast television (TV channels 2-36). Use of these TV band frequencies, which fall below 608 MHz, remain available for wireless microphone use. See FCC 15-100, FCC 15-99. Licensed wireless microphones may also operate on specific frequencies in the 600 MHz duplex gap (653-657 MHz), and unlicensed wireless microphones may operate on a portion of the 600 MHz guard band (614-616 MHz) and a portion of the 600 MHz duplex gap (657-663 MHz). See FCC 15-100, FCC 15-99.
Struck July 13, 2020Sale of 600 MHz band Wireless Microphones.
Going forward, anyone selling a wireless microphone or other device designed to operate in the 600 MHz wireless service band (617-652 MHz / 663-698 MHz) will be required to notify buyers at the point of sale that the device may no longer be used after July 13, 2020, and that users may be required to cease operation earlier if using the device could cause harmful interference that disrupts wireless communications for new service licensees. See DA 17-709.
Added July 13, 2020
The manufacture, import, sale, lease, offer for sale or lease, or shipment of wireless microphones or similar devices intended for use in the United States that operate on the 600 MHz service band frequencies (617-652 MHz and 663-698 MHz) is now prohibited. See FCC 15-100, FCC 15-99, FCC 17-95. For more information, call the FCC at 1-888-CALL-FCC (TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC) or visit the FCC's wireless microphone website at https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/broadband-division/wireless-microphones.
See also: 700MHz Wireless Microphones Banned