The June 12 conclusion of the 2010 InfoComm show in Las Vegas is also the deadline for retiring wireless equipment in the 700 MHz band.

Some users have already replaced equipment, while others have probably put it off until the last minute or have ignored it and are hoping for the best, while still others don’t even know it’s a problem.

The U.S. Federal Communication Commission (FCC) requirement to vacate 700 MHz spectrum - which includes wireless in-ear monitor and wireless intercom systems, as well as wireless microphones - covers all equipment that operates between 698 and 806 MHz.

Because it was originally the highest TV spectrum prior to the DTV transition, and there weren’t many stations in that range, a whole lot of wireless equipment was sold with those frequencies. Estimates are that of the roughly 2 million units in the U.S., a quarter have been effected – some half-million systems.

The FCC order also immediately prohibits the sale - or even the offer for sale – of 700 MHz equipment for use in the U.S. However some unscrupulous owners have tried to dump their 700 MHz inventory to unsuspecting buyers on eBay and Craig’s List, which is more than just unethical.

But note that even the offer for sale of used 700 MHz equipment by private parties has been illegal since January 15 of this year. Caveat vendor!

Under Part 15, unlicensed use of low-power wireless equipment in the core TV band up to TV channel 51 (up to 698 MHz) is still permitted. However, the FCC requires sellers of wireless equipment to make the following statement:

“Most users do not need a license to operate this wireless microphone system. Nevertheless… the system may not cause harmful interference; it must operate at a low power level (not in excess of 50 milliwatts); and it has no protection from interference received from any other device. Purchasers should also be aware that the FCC is currently evaluating use of wireless microphone systems, and these rules are subject to change.”

Unlicensed wireless equipment is also permitted in the 902 to 928 MHz “ISM” band and in the 2.4 GHz “Wi-Fi” or “Bluetooth” band, with no disclosure statement required of those sellers.

The FCC says it will evaluate offenders on a “case by case basis,” though in the past there have been fines in the neighborhood of $10,000 per frequency, per occurrence for “willful and repeated” violations, along with confiscation of equipment.

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