With major U.S. events like the Super Bowl, FIFA World Cup, America 250 and the 2028 Olympics becoming ever more important for broadcasters, the Wireless Microphone Spectrum Alliance (WMSA) has been highlighting the need for spectrum to operate wireless microphones. This spectrum is particularly critical for high-profile events that include global broadcasts, multiple live performances, in-game/in-event announcements, and more, the group said.

The push to raise awareness about the importance of spectrum for the production of major events comes at a time when the Federal Communications Commission is planning to auction off more C-Band spectrum and the U.S. Congress has authorized spectrum sales.

WMSA was formed last year in an effort to raise awareness with the FCC, Congress, the White House and NTIA about how critical wireless microphones are to live performance, broadcast and cultural events, the association said. Comprised of a coalition of manufacturers, audio engineers and broadcast professionals, WMSA’s mission is to preserve and protect spectrum for professional wireless use so events like these can proceed with uninterrupted audio quality.

For example, the events surrounding the Super Bowl create a major demand on radio frequency spectrum for wireless microphones. It is the most amount of wireless deployed for a single sporting event and these requirements continue to increase.

[Related: “WMSA Puts the Spotlight on Sound”]

For such events, WMSA noted that producers require:

• Massive scale: Hundreds of wireless channels are needed for talent, crew, referees and sideline personnel.
• Frequency coordination: Game Day Coordinators allocate spectrum, prioritizing operations, venue, teams and broadcasters.
• Interference mitigation: Professional audio engineers use techniques like multiplexing, directional antennas, and meticulous frequency planning to help prevent signal clashes.
• Equipment: High-end wireless systems, specialized software and robust distribution gear are essential.

Across all platforms, use of wireless microphones supports content creation sectors valued at approximately two trillion dollars in economic value globally and poised to pass three trillion dollars by 2025, according to A. Guttman.

WMSA believes that spectrum is under threat as the remaining spectrum accessible to wireless microphones in the 470–608 MHz band – which is shared with broadcasters, white space devices, public safety operations, etc. – is insufficient.

For example, spectrum scans taken in various U.S. cities after 2017, following the incentive auction and loss of access to the 600 MHz band, show limited or no available TV channels for wireless microphones.

This has necessitated an increasing reliance on Special Temporary Authority (STA) grants by the FCC to access spectrum typically not allowed for wireless mics in order to support medium and large-sized events. However, STAs are ad hoc, unpredictable, burdensome on staff and, according to the WMSA, simply not a viable long-term solution to this continuing and growing need.

Data from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games revealed that 89 percent of all audio links used were within the 470–694 MHz range.

WMSA has recently met with the FCC and other organizations in Washington, D.C., to work on solutions for this to help preserve existing spectrum and get access to new spectrum for wireless microphones. WMSA is encouraged by the progress of those meetings.

The current focus on spectrum for commercial 6G use is on bands above 2.5 GHz and not on the TV-UHF band used by wireless mics. However, WMSA continues to remain vigilant that the focus does not shift to the TV-UHF frequency range.

WMSA said it has successfully engaged with relevant U.S. Federal agencies to secure access to additional spectrum.

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In a move that could have a major impact on daytime and late night talk shows, the Federal Communications Commissions’ Media Bureau has issued guidance telling broadcast stations airing certain late night and daytime talk shows that they are required to give equal time to rival candidates.

The guidance could also give affiliate stations a legal rationale for dropping controversial programming like “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, which regularly criticizes President Trump.

It isn’t certain, however, what legal impact the new guidance might have given that the FCC has not voted on any new regulations.

“Late night programming and daytime talk shows have been exempt from that [equal time for political candidates] requirement since 2006 when an exemption was given to Jay Leno because he was conducting bona fide news interviews,” the FCC noted in its latest guidance.

“Importantly, the FCC has not been presented with any evidence that the interview portion of any late night or daytime television talk show program on air presently would qualify for the bona fide news exemption … Moreover, a program that is motivated by partisan purposes, for example, would not be entitled to an exemption under longstanding FCC precedent. Any program or station that wishes to obtain formal assurance that the equal opportunities requirement does not apply (in whole or in part) is encouraged to promptly file a petition for declaratory ruling that satisfies the statutory requirements for a bona fide news exemption.”

“In the meantime, the Media Bureau encourages all television broadcast stations to ensure that they are making all appropriate equal opportunity filings in accordance with the FCC’s rules and as required by agency precedent. It is important that both broadcasters and legally qualified candidates understand the FCC’s equal opportunities regulations and how they can result in broadcasters offering opposing legal qualified candidates comparable time and placement,” the FCC concluded.

The move drew immediate fire from the lone Democrat on the FCC, Commissioner Anna Gomez, who said it was an “an escalation in this FCC’s ongoing campaign to censor and control speech.”

“Nothing has fundamentally changed with respect to our political broadcasting rules,” Gomez said in a statement. “The FCC has not adopted any new regulation, interpretation, or Commission-level policy altering the long-standing news exemption or equal time framework. For decades, the Commission has recognized that bona fide news interviews, late-night programs, and daytime news shows are entitled to editorial discretion based on newsworthiness, not political favoritism. That principle has not been repealed, revised, or voted on by the Commission. This announcement therefore does not change the law, but it does represent an escalation in this FCC’s ongoing campaign to censor and control speech.

“The First Amendment does not yield to government intimidation,” Gomez added. “Broadcasters should not feel pressured to water down, sanitize, or avoid critical coverage out of fear of regulatory retaliation. Broadcast stations have a constitutional right to carry newsworthy content, even when that content is critical of those in power. That does not change today, it will not change tomorrow, and it will not change simply because of this Administration’s desire to silence its critics.”

Last year, FCC Commissioner attacked “Jimmy Kimmel Live” for violating public interest standards for broadcast stations and applauded Nexstar and Sinclair for temporarily blacking out his show on their broadcast stations.

This drew fire from free speech groups and some conservatives like Ted Cruz who argued that Carr’s interpretation of public interest rules could be used to censor conservatives.

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