It's the jocks versus the geeks, only this time the playing field is the FCC, not the high school cafeteria.
As reported by Broadcasting and Cable, ESPN, the NFL, PGA, NBA, NHL and NCAA filed comments with the FCC (try saying that three times fast) opposing Google and Motorola's latest attempt at using so-called "white spaces" (the unused spectrum between TV channels) to deliver internet services to so-called "unlicensed" devices.
The "jocks" are afraid that the "geeks" could hurt wireless microphones or other audio equipment (keep in mind that most wireless microphones are technically illegal anyway).
We are deeply troubled by the very serious disruption and harm that portable device
interference will cause to sport broadcast programming, whether pre-recorded or live, and the
conduct of the games themselves. Sports programming relies extensively on wireless microphones and related audio equipment in its production and distribution.
In other words, people everywhere should be deprived of the use of this spectrum because sports programs being recorded elsewhere use wireless microphones.
Specifically, Monday Night Football MUST be protected against this harmful interference. Imagine what would happen if we couldn't hear from Tony Kornheiser for a few seconds. The horror!
...The ESPN Monday Night Football ("MNF") broadcast alone requires 145 wireless frequencies for microphones, talkback and communications. Under current conditions, one TV channel is simply not enough bandwidth to sustain the MNF broadcaster's needs. ..
Above all else, the FCC must protect Monday Night Football. This is America, right?
Yes, the vast majority of wireless microphones, intercom, IFB and IEM systems in use are unlicensed and thus illegal, and that's an entire topic of discussion on its own. However, one must understand that their use is pervasive and ubiquitous in not only the entertainment production (content) realm (theatrical productions from Broadway to high schools; concerts; episodic and reality TV; ENG; film making; news and interview shows and a host of other formats), but in the corporate world as well for industry wide or company meetings and events. In fact, corporate clients are one of the biggest customers of wireless mics - including Google, Microsoft, HP, Dell and a host of other IT companies - as the executives don't want to be tethered and area micing is unsatisfactory.
It's far, far more than just sports. In short, well over 75% of the audio delivered with a video feed of any type is with the use of wireless mics, and the production value of that feed more often than not utilized wireless intercom, in ear monitors (IEM) and/or interruptible foldback (IFB).
That said, legacy FM based Part 74 BAS devices are terribly spectrally inefficient and very susceptible to interference, and new technologies for these devices must be developed. However, it's also very important to understand that there is currently no digital RF transmission format in use or on the drawing boards that can deliver the *very* high audio quality and ultra-low latencies of legacy FM technology, and *consumers* demand this level of audio quality when they attend a theatrical production, concert, or turn on their HD DTV. Simply put, Part 74 BAS devices and their users can't be dismissed out of hand; otherwise you may find all those wonderful new whitespace devices and brand new expensive HD DTV are providing great video with very little or low quality audio.
Henry Cohen
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