[opendtv] Re: Did I get this one right?

I believe you may have misused the term "enforcing" per the FCC on this
matter.

These items, before being licensed, are coordinated locally.  You can bet
your bottom dollar that an infringing use is almost immediately reported to
the local BAFCC (broadcast auxillary frequency coordinating committee, the
groups that Dale mentioned.)

You can be assured that any matter that cannot be almost immediately
resolved in favor of the licensed and coordinated stations is reported very
quickly to the FCC, and you can be assured that unlicensed users of wireless
microphones have been fined by the FCC.  Indeed, it's happened several times
THIS YEAR.  I seem to recall one that involved a maker of wireless
microphones.

John Willkie 

-----Mensaje original-----
De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
nombre de Craig Birkmaier
Enviado el: Sunday, October 21, 2007 8:02 PM
Para: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Asunto: [opendtv] Re: Did I get this one right?

At 11:23 AM -0700 10/21/07, Dale Kelly wrote:
>John W. responded to Craig:
>
>>  Wireless mics are licensed, so you start off from an absurd point
>>  of view. No need to read further.
>
>In addition, each broadcast market, or geographic area, has a local
>frequency coordinator. This is often a Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE)
>function and is sanctioned by the FCC. Licensed users of the broadcast
>auxiliary services (BAS), Satellite uplinks and vacant TV channel RF
>devices, such as wireless mics, must obtain specific frequency usage
>authorization thru coordination. Without this oversight it would be RF
>chaos, particularly in the major markets.


Thanks for the info about the frequency coordinators Dale. I was not 
aware that wireless Mics require licensing, although the info I am 
finding on the web suggests that the FCC does not enforce the 
licensing requirement.

As I suspected, there is no licensing requirement for medical 
telemetry devices that share the broadcast spectrum, however, the 
devices must be approved under the rules for their use, and they must 
be registered with the local frequency coordinator:

From 
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=licensing&id=wireless_medical
_telemetry

>Licensing
>
>WMTS operators do not have to apply for licenses from the FCC. In 
>order to be authorized under the FCC's rules, a WMTS operator is 
>required only to use equipment that is properly authorized under the 
>rules and to register with the designated frequency coordinator.

This all makes sense, and given traditional practices I can 
understand why broadcasters are concerned about the potential for 
interference. It is also clear that there are many instances of 
unauthorized use of devices that share broadcast spectrum; wireless 
microphones are a frequently cited example. Many small shops use 
wireless mics and may use their gear in multiple markets. I can see 
where registration and coordination could get very bothersome and 
wonder what percentage of users actually work with local frequency 
coordinators.

For what it is worth, the rules for Medical telemetry devices are 
written in a manner that suggests that interference with broadcasters 
is not the real issue. The rules state that these devices are not 
protected from interference by licensed users. So I suspect that in 
the real world, people find a frequency that works, perhaps with the 
assist of a local TV guide.

There were numerous hits about problems with Medical Telemetry 
devices in the 1998 time frame when new DTV transmitters were being 
turned on; the FDA issued a warning to users about the new DTV 
stations in 1998.

This suggests that these devices are installed, using an available 
frequency that is not being used by local stations. If a new station 
uses that frequency it can cause problems for the telemetry devices, 
and indeed it did in a few markets in 1998.

Regards
Craig

 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:

- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at
FreeLists.org 

- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
unsubscribe in the subject line.




 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:

- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at 
FreeLists.org 

- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word 
unsubscribe in the subject line.

Other related posts: