STATEMENT OF
ACTING CHAIRWOMAN JESSICA ROSENWORCEL

Re:	Amendment of Parts 15 and 74 of the Rules for Wireless Microphones in the TV Bands, 
600 MHz Guard Band, 600 MHz Duplex Gap, and the 941.5- 944 MHz, 944-952 MHz, 
952.850-956.250 MHz, 956.45-959.85 MHz, 1435-1525 MHz, 6875-6900 MHz and 7100-
7125 MHz Bands, ET Docket No. 21-115, RM 11821, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(April 22, 2021)

	Unless you’re in video and audio production, the odds are you haven’t thought much about wireless microphones.  But they’re everywhere.  You’ll find them in big Broadway productions and small-town theaters.  They’re present on film sets.  They’re commonly used in churches, stadiums, and schools.  These nearly ubiquitous devices operate in a mix of licensed and unlicensed airwaves in the 600 MHz and 900 MHz bands, as well as the 1.9 GHz and 7 GHz bands.  These airwaves are shared with a range of other wireless services, including broadcasting, aeronautical activities, Wi-Fi, and unlicensed operations that use white spaces to expand the availability of broadband.  

	Making sure all of these services can function at the same time without interference is a significant task.  So when a new technology for wireless microphones comes along it merits a close and careful look.  That’s what the Federal Communications Commission is doing today.  We’re starting a rulemaking to assess changes needed to our rules to support a new kind of wireless microphone system called Wireless Multi-Channel Audio Systems, or WMAS.  These systems have the potential to significantly improve the efficiency of wireless microphone operations.  So much so, that under the rules we propose here, three times as many microphones may be able to operate while putting the same amount of power over the air as a single wireless microphone does under our rules today.

	This promotes spectral efficiency—which is a good thing.  Because here that could mean that other spectrum interests using these bands might benefit from more efficient microphone operations, too.  In fact, this new spectral efficiency could mean more opportunities for broadband technologies like white spaces and Wi-Fi.  So we seek detailed comment on these matters.   

I look forward to the record that develops.  For making this rulemaking possible, thank you to David Duarte, Ira Keltz, Paul Murray, Siobahn Philemon, Ron Repasi, and Hugh Van Tyl from the Office of Engineering and Technology; Patrick Brogan, Kate Matraves, Michelle Shaefer, and Aleks Yankelevich from the Office of Economics and Analytics; David Horowitz, Keith McCrickard, and Bill Richardson from the Office of General Counsel; Jeremy Marcus, Ashley Tyson, and Raphael Sznajder from the Enforcement Bureau; Hillary DeNigro, Barbara Kreisman, and Evan Morris from the Media Bureau; and Chris Andes, Steve Buenzow, Kari Hicks, Paul Malmud, and Blaise Scinto from the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.