Sennheiser filed a Petition of Reconsideration with the FCC in December of 2015 following the initial announcement of new regulations, timed to coincide with the upcoming incentive auction and reallocation of the 600 MHz frequency spectrum. Sennheiser's filing elucidated practical concerns for manufacturers and users of wireless microphones in day-to-day applications as well as proposing potential solutions. The FCC studied Sennheiser's proposals and the input of others during the intervening year and a half, and the Order on Reconsideration has made many of the audio specialist s proposals a reality.
"We sincerely applaud the FCC staff for their work and due consideration on this Order and proposed rulemaking, says Joe Ciaudelli, Director of U.S. Spectrum Affairs for Sennheiser. This represents a very positive outcome for our customers and all professional wireless microphone users. Clearly the FCC listened to the needs of the professional production community and worked hard to provide a solution."
The Order on Reconsideration is wide-ranging and affects several key provisions of the guidelines passed in August of 2015. According to Sennheiser, the Commission had initially created an out-of-band emission (OOBE) standard that might have resulted in unintended consequences. With the ratification, the FCC has now adopted the established European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ESTI) OOBE standard, which achieves the intended goal of protecting the use of adjacent frequency bands and harmonizes with international standards - allowing users to operate the same equipment in multiple countries in many cases.
Additionally, the Order will enable legacy equipment that operates within the 600 MHz band to be modified to comply with the new regulations, saving a significant amount of still operational wireless gear from costly pre-mature obsolescence following the transition period.
License Eligibility Expansion - Opportunities for Success In the Future Notice of Proposed Rulemaking the Commission states its intention to expand license eligibility, allowing many organizations that stage sophisticated productions but do not qualify for an FCC license under current rules the ability to obtain a license. This was opposed by a mega-sized multi-conglomerate that desires UHF channels for operation of unlicensed white space channels. Licensed microphone operators are able to reserve channels for interference protection from unlicensed devices when they stage their productions - a vital privilege that will help organizations like high-quality regional theaters ensure smooth, professional wireless audio operation. Sennheiser submitted a timely filing in response to the opposing party to outline these issues while defending the interests of wireless microphone operators, illustrating that the ability to reserve white space frequencies for professional wireless use is integral to effective operation of wireless microphone systems in real-world applications.
Ease of Field Operations A provision that would have required the exclusive use of proprietary connectors for unlicensed wireless equipment with detactable antennas has been modified by the Order to allow the use of standard connectors. Acknowledging the importance of unlicensed users within the wireless sector, the move ensures that replacement antennas and cabling can be procured quickly and easily from a wide range of sources, allowing reliable day-in, day-out operation even in the case of cable failure.
A Path for Innovation The Order will provide design flexibility for wireless gear manufacturers by allowing the output power of wireless devices to be measured either as effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) or conducted power at the output at the antenna terminal. This approach allows engineers greater latitude in designing equipment with internal antennas or the larger antennas demanded in lower frequencies.
Clarity and Compliance The Order also addresses concerns regarding specific bands and their applications. The specified frequencies of the 169-172 MHz band have now been optimally coordinated for microphone use, allowing more mics to operate in this band. The Commission specifically adopted a proposal by Sennheiser for optimal frequency coordination within this band.
The Commission also clarified details regarding the 1435-1525 MHz band, used for large-scale events of over one hundred microphones. The Commission clarified that the 30 MHz spectrum use limit in the 1435-1525 MHz band pertains to a single operator. Multiple authorizations that, in total, utilize the full 90 MHz may be assigned to different operations within an area. A single operator that requires more than 30 MHz for a mega-event can apply for a special temporary authorization (STA).
The Order also prescribes the procedure for use of the 941.5-944 MHz band, which can be useful for fixed venues such as Broadway theaters and casinos requiring house wireless microphones on distinct frequencies from those utilized by touring acts. Users will need to confer with a local Society of Broadcast Engineers coordinator and apply for a license with the FCC, which will coordinate with incumbent Federal primary users of the band.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
IPC Expands Brazilian Presence with New Channel Partner CCATech
Industry veterans Carlos Abrah o and Bruno Lopes strengthen local support and expand IPCs prese...
20/08/2026
Zixi Enters Mauritius Market Through Strategic Deployment with MTC Jockey Club
Worlds Oldest Horse Racing Club in the Southern Hemisphere Selects Zixis Softwar...
20/08/2026
LA JOLLA, CA-Scripps Research assistant professor Tiantian Liu has received a five-year NIAID DP2 award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Di...
20/08/2026
Audiences reveal appetite for multicultural Australia on-screen 20 August 2026
Dr Georgie McClean, Dr Rebecca Huntley (L-R)
By Dr Georgie McClean and Dr Rebec...
20/08/2026
How Mavis Studio Is Expanding Live Production Teaching at Sussex
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Hero image displays a student about to mix be...
20/08/2026
Vertical Unscripted Series Legal Queens Captured with Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Reality TV veteran Eric Gardner create...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
Sennheiser filed a Petition of Reconsideration with the FCC in December of 2015 following the initial announcement of new regulations, timed to coincide with the upcoming incentive auction and reallocation of the 600 MHz frequency spectrum. Sennheiser's filing elucidated practical concerns for manufacturers and users of wireless microphones in day-to-day applications as well as proposing potential solutions. The FCC studied Sennheiser's proposals and the input of others during the intervening year and a half, and the Order on Reconsideration has made many of the audio specialist s proposals a reality. 
