http://www.shure.com/americas/news‐events/spectrum‐issues/white‐spaces/overview/index.

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Shure Overview of White Spaces

In the United States, the private or commercial use of radio frequency spectrum is managed by
the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Wireless microphones, wireless personal
monitors, and similar professional wireless devices are permitted to operate in several different
parts of the spectrum; the largest of these is the UHF TV band, whose primary occupants are
television broadcast stations.

As a result of the transition from analog to digital television (DTV), television stations in the
U.S. can be spaced closer together in the spectrum – even on adjacent channels. This allowed
the TV stations to fit into a smaller section of spectrum. Prior to the DTV transition, the
spectrum from 470 MHz to 806 MHz was allocated to the UHF TV band. After the transition
was officially completed on June 12, 2010, the spectrum allocated to the UHF TV band was
revised to be 470 MHz to 698 MHz.

The remaining spectrum (698 MHz to 806 MHz, also known as the “700 MHz Band”) was
reallocated for other wireless services. Some sections were reserved for use by public safety
agencies, and other sections were licensed to commercial wireless service providers through a
series of auctions conducted by the FCC. Wireless microphones and other professional wireless
systems were prohibited from operating in the 700 MHz band after June 12, 2010 to prevent
interference to the new licensed services.

Even after the DTV transition, some TV channels in each city remain unassigned to TV stations.
After extensive study, the FCC decided to allow other wireless devices (including smartphones,
computers, and similar products) to use these unassigned TV channels, often referred to as
“white spaces.” Most of the operating rules for these “TV Band Devices” have been finalized,
and the FCC may certify some of them for sale in 2011.

The prospect of consumer wireless devices sharing the spectrum used by wireless microphones
and other professional wireless systems creates the potential for interference. Shure was deeply
concerned about this proposal, and worked closely with the FCC and lawmakers in Congress to
insure that a workable means for preventing interference to wireless microphones was included.
In the form of comments to the FCC and correspondence with Congressional representatives,
support for this position came from other wireless microphone manufacturers, the broadcast,
theater, and live sound production community, audio equipment retailers and integrators, houses
of worship, and end users at various technical levels. The final rules, adopted in September
2010, include measures that protect both small and large users of wireless microphones.

The FCC continues to seek ways to use radio spectrum more efficiently. The National
Broadband Plan released in March 2010 outlined several possible approaches to increase the
amount of spectrum available for wireless broadband in the U.S. In addition to consulting with
the FCC and lawmakers in the U.S. on a regular basis, Shure is working with organizations such
as the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and European Conference of
Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) that are studying the technical,
operational, and regulatory issues that need to be considered to prevent interference to wireless
microphones as TV band devices are deployed in other parts of the world.

For specific inquiries on the white spaces initiative, please contact Shure at
whitespacesinfo@shure.com.