By Mark Pattison
Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Churches across the country are among those who might need to switch the kind of microphones they are using if they have outdated wireless microphones utilizing the 700 MHz band on the frequency spectrum.

The Federal Communications Com-mission, effective June 12, has reserved 700 MHz for the exclusive use of public safety workers and first responders.

One effect of last year’s transition to digital television was to clear out TV stations from that part of the spectrum, according to Matthew Nodine, chief of staff of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.

But getting what could be potentially thousands of wireless mic users to vacate that spot, despite the FCC’s best efforts, is a tougher task.

Nodine said he reached out to 43 national organizations, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, to help spread the word about the looming obsolescence of 700 MHz wireless mics, a decision that was finalized in January.

He estimated that only 10 to 12 percent of all wireless mics made used that part of the spectrum. Nor were churches the sole users of the wireless mics. Cheerleaders and even store-bought karaoke machines possessed wireless mics that used the 700 MHz bandwidth.

Nodine knows all too well about the karaoke side of the equation. He recalled buying a karaoke machine for his daughters a couple of years ago that contained wireless mics, “not even checking” what bandwidth they used, he told CNS. “They got a new karaoke machine last Christmas,” Nodine added.

To prepare for the vacating of the 700 MHz part of the spectrum, the FCC assembled a list of every known make and model of wireless mics that used 700 MHz, Nodine said. The full list appears at www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones/manufacturers.html.

“From what we have found, most people left 700 MHz years ago,” Nodine said. Churches that had a member “who’s tech savvy, stays on top of electronics and were on top of this, they migrated out of 700 MHz,” he added.

Those that haven’t and are caught by the FCC using 700 MHz equipment face fines, the forfeiture of their equipment and potential criminal liability, according to Nodine.

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