WMSA Announces New Efforts With FCC To Secure Wireless Mic Spectrum
•February 10, 2026
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Why It Matters
Without guaranteed spectrum, large‑scale live productions risk becoming unviable, threatening a multi‑trillion‑dollar industry and the future of broadcast events.
Key Takeaways
- •WMSA pushes FCC to safeguard 470‑608 MHz spectrum.
- •Current spectrum scans show minimal TV channels available.
- •Major events like Super Bowl need hundreds of mic channels.
- •STAs are unpredictable, burdensome, not long‑term solution.
- •Wireless mics support $2 trillion global content creation market.
Pulse Analysis
The scramble for radio‑frequency real estate has intensified since the 2017 incentive auction repurposed the 600 MHz band, forcing wireless microphones into a congested slice of UHF spectrum. This band, traditionally reserved for TV broadcasting, now shares space with public‑safety communications and emerging white‑space devices, leaving broadcasters and event producers with few clean channels. As spectrum scans across major U.S. cities reveal, the availability of dedicated TV channels for mic use is dwindling, prompting industry groups to seek regulatory relief.
Wireless microphones are the backbone of live‑event audio, from stadium concerts to Olympic broadcasts. The WMSA highlights that the 2026 Super Bowl alone will demand hundreds of simultaneous mic links, a scale mirrored in other high‑profile productions. Relying on Special Temporary Authority (STA) grants from the FCC offers a stop‑gap but introduces administrative overhead and uncertainty, undermining production planning. The alliance points to data showing 89 percent of audio links at the Paris 2024 Olympics occupied the 470‑694 MHz range, underscoring the sector’s dependence on stable, low‑frequency spectrum.
Policy makers face a balancing act: protecting the lucrative wireless‑mic ecosystem while accommodating future 6G deployments above 2.5 GHz. WMSA’s recent meetings with the FCC and NTIA signal a proactive push for permanent spectrum allocation, rather than ad‑hoc permissions. By framing the issue in economic terms—linking mic access to a $2 trillion global content market—the alliance aims to secure legislative support. Continued advocacy could cement a dedicated UHF block for professional audio, ensuring that large‑scale events remain viable and that the industry retains its competitive edge.
WMSA Announces New Efforts With FCC To Secure Wireless Mic Spectrum
The Wireless Microphone Spectrum Alliance (WMSA) released a report highlighting the increasing difficulty of securing enough radio frequency (RF) spectrum for wireless microphones, which are essential for live performances, officiating, and global broadcasts.
The group, formed last year by a coalition of manufacturers, audio engineers, and broadcast professionals, is lobbying the FCC, Congress, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to protect dedicated spectrum for professional wireless use.
“Without sufficient availability of suitable spectrum for wireless microphones, medium-to-large-scale events … will simply become unviable in many cities,” the WMSA stated in its report.
The alliance pointed to the 2026 Super Bowl as a primary example of the “massive scale” required for modern sports production. The event requires hundreds of wireless channels for talent, crew, referees, and sideline personnel.
The core of the issue lies in the 470-608 MHz band. Following the 2017 incentive auction and the subsequent loss of the 600 MHz band, wireless microphones have been squeezed into a shared space with broadcasters, public safety operations, and white space devices. Spectrum scans in several U.S. cities now show limited or no available TV channels for wireless microphone use.
Currently, many major productions rely on Special Temporary Authority (STA) grants from the FCC to access additional spectrum. However, the WMSA argues these ad hoc grants are “unpredictable, burdensome on staff and simply not a viable long-term solution.”
The economic stakes are high. The WMSA noted that wireless microphones support content creation sectors valued at more than $2 trillion globally. Data from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games underscored the reliance on specific frequencies, with 89 percent of all audio links using the 470-694 MHz range.
While current federal focus regarding 6G commercial use remains on bands above 2.5 GHz, the WMSA said it remains “vigilant” to ensure the TV-UHF frequency range used by wireless mics is not targeted for reallocation.
The alliance recently met with the FCC and other federal agencies to discuss securing access to additional spectrum. The group described itself as “encouraged” by the progress of those meetings as it seeks a more permanent solution for the future of live event production.
The post WMSA Announces New Efforts With FCC To Secure Wireless Mic Spectrum appeared first on TV News Check.
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