WASHINGTON: Shure, the Niles, Ill., microphone maker, filed ex parte comments today with the Federal Communications Commission, objecting to a proposal that wireless mics be deemed “co-equal” to newly emerging unlicensed devices. 

“On June 8, 2009, Verizon Wireless submitted an ex parte letter proposing radical
changes to the regulation of wireless microphones in the core television bands that would effectively leave wireless microphones and many users nationwide who rely on wireless microphone technology completely vulnerable to devastating interference,” the filling states. “On June 18, 2009, Public Knowledge filed an ex
parte notice acknowledging that it too urged Acting Chairman [Michael] Copps and his legal advisors to adopt similar changes. These changes, essentially relegating wireless microphones to Part 15 status, were described as a ‘workable’ plan that provides ‘certainty, speed and flexibility.’ This characterization is completely false and should be rejected.

“Adopting these proposals would materially impair the utility of the core TV bands for many wireless microphone users and contradict the commission’s long-standing mandate to protect incumbent users of ‘white spaces’ spectrum,” it continued. “…These late suggestions are contrary to principles that the commission laid out from the very beginning of the ‘white spaces’ proceeding when it clearly declared that the hierarchy of radio operations in the core TV bands regulations would remain intact. The commission has not waivered from this important principle and
should not now.”

The complete text of Shure’s filling is available here.