FCC orders wireless microphones out of airwaves

The FCC today ordered wireless microphones to vacate a wide swath of airwaves that were auctioned off two years ago. The wireless microphones--used during TV broadcasts, sports events and concerts--are moving to make way for more advanced wireless services and public safety communications.

As of now, no more microphones will be sold to consumers, and all wireless microphones have to stop operating in those frequencies by June 12--the one-year anniversary of the transition to digital TV.

Given the order to vacate the airwaves, microphone makers will fight even harder to hold their ground in other airwaves that could go toward other uses. Shure, one of the biggest manufacturers of wireless microphones has been lobbying the FCC on the industry's behalf.

The FCC is also evaluating how wireless microphones should be allowed to operate in other frequencies known as white spaces. Consumer groups and companies like Google, Microsoft, Dell and HP want to use those frequences for mobile broadband, but microphone makers say doing so will leave them vulnerable to interference.

Microphone companies will likely have to compromise. The FCC has been pretty clear that it sees white spaces as an important way to increase spectrum available for wireless Internet access.