The Federal Communications Commission has decided to grant Google, Motorola, Dell and Microsoft permission to develop “white space” devices that megachurch pastors worry will interfere with their wireless mics.
The “white space” devices would use the same radio frequency that wireless microphones use, which means that pastors who use wireless microphones could have their sermons interrupted. Companies like Google and Microsoft want to use the frequencies to send broadband Internet to remote areas of the country.
In a statement issued Tuesday (Nov. 4), the FCC promised to “act promptly to remove from the market any equipment found to be causing harmful interference and will require the responsible parties to take appropriate actions to remedy any interference that may occur.”
I’m in favour of any technology that breaks up the glitz in modern megachurches…
Our parish is far from megachurch status and we use 8 or more wireless microphones on a given Sunday. It’s got nothing to do with “glitz” or megachurches. We don’t use them because they’re fancy, we use them because they are convenient and we have more time to focus on other things.
The flip side is that these microphones operate in frequencies that require licenses from the FCC (usually UHF TV range). The products originated for use in television network studios (which obviously would have had the licenses). Because the FCC didn’t crack down on these short-range devices (since they didn’t interfere with anything), people in all types of facilities have come to feel entitled to use them. We never had that right – legally, nothing is being taken from us.
I should also point out that Shure and Sennheiser (maybe others) have, for the most part, stopped marketing microphones that operate in the new “white space” ever since the frequency reallocation was announced. Mics operating in other frequencies will be fine. Not all frequencies are being reallocated. The article seems to lump all wireless mic systems together, but even within UHF there is a considerable range of frequency bands.
ARRRRGGGHHH!!!!! Everything in my household is interfering with everything else the way it is! And the outlawing of incandescent bulbs in favor of flourescents will be the end of AM radio reception all together.
The FCC’s Type Certification organization has become an empty ghosttown of old dusty old wooden cabinets and oscillating fans.
Any technology that could shut down pastors of megachurches is greatly to be desired.