Transition Begins for Broadcasters Leaving 600 MHz Band

The SBE has noted recently that users of wireless microphones and UHF low-power auxiliary devices at the close of FCC Auctions 1001/1002 have significant options for continued access to the UHF television band. Among these options is the continued availability of the 600 MHz band (614-698 MHz, above TV Channel 37) during the 39-month transition period that is scheduled to end on July 13, 2020. At the end of this transition period, all television stations that participated in the auction will have cleared the spectrum between 614 MHz and 698 MHz.
During the 39-month transition period, wireless microphones, intercoms and other low power broadcast auxiliary devices can continue to operate normally in the entire 614-698 MHz band. However, it will be necessary during this entire period to protect any broadband systems that acquired the spectrum in the auction that begin operations during the transition period.

The difficulty for broadcasters and video production entities in the use of wireless microphones and low-power auxiliary devices in the 614-698 MHz band during the transition is that we have no way of knowing precisely when a particular auction winner plans to light up in a given area. T-Mobile, which was one of the larger successful bidders at the auction, has been in close touch with the broadcast community on this subject. We have not heard from other auction winners about their scheduled deployment in the 600 MHz band.

T-Mobile helpfully has released a list of counties in which they intend to commence operations before the end of November 2017. The list comprises counties in which, generally speaking, there are no television stations subject to rebanding. There are numerous western areas that are largely rural on this list. T-Mobile will release subsequent lists as its rollout plans develop. If you plan to deploy wireless mics in any of the listed counties in the 614-698 MHz band (other than in the guard band or the duplex gap) subsequent to November 2016, you are obligated to ensure that no use of the band by auction winners has actually commenced by that time.