Wireless Microphones and the Post-Incentive Auction Transition

Transition Period for 600 MHz Band Operations

The repurposing of spectrum for 600 MHz wireless licensees affects the continued operation of wireless microphones on the 617-652 MHz and 663-698 MHz frequencies. The FCC has provided for a transition period until July 13, 2020 for wireless microphone operators to obtain new equipment and transition out of the 617-652 MHz and 663-698 MHz frequencies (the 600 MHz Band). Information about additional spectrum bands that wireless microphones can operate in can be found on the Mobility Division's Wireless Microphones page.

Until July 13, 2020, wireless microphone operators may continue to operate on the 617-652 MHz and 663-698 MHz frequencies only if they do not cause harmful interference either to the existing broadcast television operations (which also must cease operating in the band no later than July 13, 2020) or to the 600 MHz wireless licensees' operations in the 600 MHz Band. Wireless microphone users also must accept harmful interference from those broadcast television and 600 MHz wireless licensees. Wireless microphone operators may be required to cease operations prior to July 13, 2020 if such operations could cause harmful interference to any new 600 MHz wireless licensee's operations. In particular, wireless microphone users must cease operation in frequencies in any areas where a 600 MHz wireless licensee has commenced their operation or is conducting its first field application testing.

After July 13, 2020, wireless microphone operations are permitted on certain 600 MHz frequencies outside of where 600 MHz wireless licensees operate. Specifically, licensed wireless microphone users may operate on the specific frequencies in the 600 MHz duplex gap (653-657 MHz), and unlicensed wireless microphone users may operate on a portion of the 600 MHz guard band (614-616 MHz) or a portion of the 600 MHz duplex gap (657-663 MHz).

Continued Operation in the Reorganized TV Bands (Channels 2-36)

Wireless microphone users, whether licensed or unlicensed, may continue to operate on a secondary basis in the bands that continue to be available for and used on a primary basis by broadcast television (TV channels 2-36) below 608 MHz. However, wireless microphone users should be cognizant of the post-incentive auction broadcast transition during which many broadcasters will vacate, on a rolling basis, their pre-auction channels and commence operation on post-auction channel assignments within the reorganized TV Band (TV channels 2-36). The post-incentive auction broadcast transition schedule is available on our Transition Schedule page. A current list of repacked stations and their specific transition dates (phase assignments) can be found on our Current Transition Files page.

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