|
Shure
Says White Space Devices "Not Ready For Prime Time" -
FCC Report States Prototype Devices Interfere With TV And Wireless
Microphones
(August 1, 2007) NILES, IL - Shure Incorporated applauded
the release of test results that evaluated the performance of
proposed unlicensed devices that would operate in the "white spaces" of
the TV broadcast spectrum. The FCC's Office of Engineering and
Technology released the results of the testing.
"Shure
has always urged policymakers to leave this issue in the hands
of
unbiased and independent testing experts. Unfounded promises
that
interference mitigation technology 'will work' aren't good enough.
After the release of this report, the Commission and Congress
can see
why the independent analysis was so important," said Sandy LaMantia,
President and CEO of Shure.
FCC experts tested two prototypes of proposed personal/portable
consumer
devices that were designed to detect and avoid both active DTV
channels
and wireless microphone signals. According to the test
report, however,
the prototype devices failed to consistently sense or detect
the
presence of either DTV broadcasts or wireless microphones. Testing
also
showed that the prototype devices interfered with digital cable
TV
channel reception on three DTV receivers in a typical home environment.
"The idea that big manufacturers can dump millions of new gadgets
onto
the same frequencies as wireless microphones without causing
devastating
interference to sports, entertainment, religious, news gathering,
and
other live productions is simply not supported by engineering
reality,"
said Mark Brunner, Senior Director of Public and Industry Relations
at
Shure. "The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology
deserves
tremendous credit for resisting pressure to forego a hard look
at claims
that the new devices won't interfere and for resolving the issue
on
sound and objective engineering analysis."
The tests were conducted as the FCC prepares to issue regulations
in
October that will govern whether unlicensed consumer devices
are
permitted to operate in the so-called "white spaces" between
active TV
channels. This spectrum has been used by wireless microphones
and other
wireless audio devices for more than 20 years.
For more information about the white space issue, visit
http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/PressRoom/WhiteSpaces/index.htm
|
