American churches have less than two weeks to change their wireless microphone equipment or face more than $100,000 in fines.

Has this ruling affected any of the churches represented here at SI? If so, what have you had to do to comply?

I can’t pull up the link. But I havent received any notifcation on this.

American churches have less than two weeks to change their wireless microphone equipment or face more than $100,000 in fines.

In January, the Federal Communications Commission mandated that anyone using wireless microphones on the 700 MHz band must stop by June 12 in order to make room for use by police, fire and emergency services.

An unlicensed person or business—which includes churches—using microphones on frequencies between 698 and 806 MHz must stop or face action by the FCC. Violators could face up to $112,500 in fines or imprisonment for continued violation, according to the FCC. Violations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

I sent a link about this to our sound guys a couple of months ago, and it was the first they’d heard about it, so I am sure there are lots of churches that have no clue as to what is going on. I’m hoping they don’t get slammed with this unawares.

But I’m wondering- how would the FCC go about finding churches that haven’t complied?

But I’m wondering- how would the FCC go about finding churches that haven’t complied?

I don’t think they’re going to go out looking, but if your church system is set up to receive that frequency from the mikes and the emergency services nearby have chosen to use it, you’re going to have an interesting service every time the trucks go by. Conversely, if you have a really powerful mike, they might get to listen in on your sermon. Then they would know you have old mikes.
Years ago we attended a church whose system picked up the truckers’ CB radios on one channel. This looks to be the same sort of conflict.

Hee hee- I can see the FCC police running around with mic detectors… :p

Thanks for the explanation, Audrey- I can see where that could be a major issue depending on the location of the church. Our cordless phone used to pick up our neighbor’s conversations every once in awhile. It was like living in the country again with a party-line!

I passed this along to our music director. We have a mix-match of church bought equipment and equipment owned by the music director and loaned to the church. He says it looks like the church equipment is fine, but his personal stuff will need to be replaced.

Our building is one block from a fire station. That would be interesting…

Just another reason that I really *DESPISE* electronic sound systems. All that money, and I have never, ever been in the presence of one that worked properly. And now you need to go out and spend even more on equipment that will have a long learning curve and continually distract from the ministry of the Word.

Just my opinion.