WASHINGTON ATTORNEY UPDATE FOR MIC MEMBERS & FRIENDS…

(October 16, 2008) Washington, DC - Many of you are aware of the yesterday’s developments regarding the white spaces docket at the FCC. Based on the now very limited time remaining in this proceeding, today we expanded the distribution of the documents shared with you last Friday. The intent is to elicit responses that can be grouped into user “camps” for communication to the FCC Commissioners before the comment period ends. The text of today’s e-mail is below. Please share this information with interested parties, and those who wish to join in communication to the Commission should indicate their support to Gary.Gallant@bingham.com

Time is of the essence.

Since that time, the FCC Test Report has been released and a vote has been scheduled for November 4, meaning that October 27 will be the last date the FCC will accept comments on white spaces before voting on new rules. We believe the new rules are not favorable to wireless microphones.

From what we understand, the rules:
   1) incorporate spectrum sensing as a protection mechanism, despite the poor performance in the lab and field
   2) will offer as few as two TV channels per market protected for wireless microphones
   3) allow personal/portable devices to operate as high as 100 mW
   4) do not specify eligible parties for expanded protection from a geo-located database

The time is now for anyone interested in the future of quality professional wireless audio to communicate to all of the FCC Commissioners that the Shure proposal is the minimum acceptable proposal to continue their operations without serious disruption.

Please reply immediately to indicate your support and to receive guidance on issuing a statement to the FCC.

PAMA MEMBERS

Adamson Systems Engineering
Audio-Technica USA Inc.
Blue Microphones
Califone
Community Professional
DiGiCo (UK), Ltd
Genelec, OY
Harman Pro
Meyer Sound
Music & Sales Professional                Equipment GmbH
Neutrik USA Inc
North American Pro Audio
QSC Audio Products
Samson Technologies Corp.
Sennheiser
Shure Inc,
Sony Electronics Inc.
Telex Communications
TransAmerica Audio Group, Inc.