Music Education Advocacy 2010 – Are We Ready? And Wireless Microphone and Instrument Changes – Ready or Not!

I’m back and settling into the office after the tremendous NAMM Show 2010 in Anaheim, CA where the music industry came together to assert its optimism and commitment to the power of music and music making. The music products industry is resilient and realistic about the current economy, and an ongoing commitment for and investment in the importance and meaning of music in our lives – and in every life – rang true during this important global gathering.

The NAMM Foundation hosted several events during the NAMM Show to support shared goals for supporting music education in our nation’s schools. I urge everyone to view the webcast that featured Quincy Jones and Yoko Ono along with other national leaders who outlined the current challenges for sustaining and improving access to music education.  The next few months with school budget deliberations and choices about supporting music education are not going to be easy and beg the question “are we ready?” I urge every NAMM member to engage in supporting music education locally and promoting its benefits. If every NAMM Member attended and spoke at a school board meeting in the next several months about the importance of supporting music as a core curriculum subject, I’m confident that programs could be sustained and that others would value your leadership.  Resources are at your finger tips www.supportmusic.com and via NAMM staff info@namm.org.

White Space, Wireless and What’s Next:
We have written in previous NAMM publications about changes coming from the FCC concerning white space regulations and how they will affect wireless microphone and instrument spectrums and reliable usage. In the past few years, NAMM has worked with its Members to appeal this ruling and its implementation.

However, FCC ruling will affect use of wireless devices in the 700 MHz spectrum.  After a phase-in period over the next few months and by June 12, 2010, operation of a wireless microphone or other wireless transmission devices in the 700 MHz Band will not be allowed.

We will provide additional updates and invite comments and questions from NAMM members.

From the FCC website: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones/

Why did the FCC make this rule?
Certain wireless microphones have operated in frequencies that are needed for public safety. When these microphones were first designed, the frequencies they used were in between the frequencies that television stations used to broadcast television programs. With the completion of the digital television (DTV) transition on June 12, 2009, television stations no longer use the frequencies between 698 and 806 MHz (the 700 MHz Band) for broadcast. These frequencies are now being used by public safety entities (such as police, fire and emergency services) and by commercial providers of wireless services (such as wireless broadband services).

The wireless microphones that had been operating in the old TV broadcast channels can cause harmful interference to these public safety and wireless consumer services. Therefore, all users of wireless microphones (or certain low power auxiliary stations) that operate on any of the frequencies in the 700 MHz band – including both licensed users and unlicensed users – now have to stop operating in this band.

The FCC is only prohibiting the use of wireless microphones that operate in the 700 MHz Band; wireless microphones that operate on other broadcast frequencies. Microphones with cords are not affected by the FCC’s decision.