In about 5 years everyine will be able to browse on the World wide web on his cell phone. And at that time we tell our children we even had wireless microphones in our days….. Unimaginable?

We live in a time in which it is common artists move freely on a stage with wireless microphones and in ear monitors. On broadcast production directors and technicians have constant wireless communication with each other. Reporters deliver news using special reporter and audio links. It sounds bizarre, but to these wireless applications might extinct. All these devices are threathened to be abondended from spectrum within a few years.

What is happening?

To run wireless production tools one needs free frequencies in the radio spectrum. And the problem is: this becomes scarce. The coming years new services as wireless broadband internet on cell phones. Consumers are willing to pay for these services and providers will make money out of it and the national treasury will earn millions on auctioning the frequencies. The fact these frequencies are currently being used by wireless microphones escaped everybody’s mind.  It is a fact, large numbers of wireless microphones will become redundant when this will happen. Do we have to live without wireless production tools in future?

Who are the users?

Broadcast productions, sport events, musicals and festivals often use large numbers of wireless microphones. Theaters, concert halls, exhibitions, conferences and rental companies have a huge number of wireless microphone systems. Motion picture and documentaries are being produced with these kinds of equipment. Tour guides, museums, social centers, houses of worship, they all use wireless microphones as also sports instructors and dance schools. The social, economical and cultural value is evident.

What is exactly the problem?

Within Europe frequencies in the band 790-862MHz will become available for mobile broadband internet latest on June 16 2015. All member states of the European Union will be obliged to do so. But some countries do not want to hesitate, as Netherlands is one of those countries. It is expected these frequencies will be auctioned off in 2010 and will finally be lost in 2011 or 2012. The biggest number of the wireless microphones will become redundant. This is a form of destruction of capital which this industry hasn’t seen before. It is uncertain how this will be compensated. And even more uncertain is what spectrum will remain for wireless production tools. Because users of this equipment still may use the band 470-790 MHz, but this band will be filled with Digital Terretrial Television. Wireless production tools users never had  and will not have an official status in this band.

Support PMSE for a wireless future

PMSE.NL is an interest organization for users of wireless production tools. Members of  our organization are national and regional broadcasters, theaters, stadiums, rental companies and event producers.  The abbreviation PMSE stands for Program Making and Special Events, the international term for the industry using wireless production tools. PMSE.NL tries to mobilize the sector, collects en distributes data and information.

PMSE.NL advocates to the Dutch authorities:

1. Acknowledgement of the interest to society of availability of spectrum for wireless production tools.
2. Implementation of the plans as late as possible
3. Allocate realistic and partially exclusive spectrum to wireless production tools, in particular the compensation of the nationwide available TV channel 63.
4. Financial compensation for all equipment becoming redundant.
5. Protection to any further erosion of our spectrum, especially after 2015.
6. Co-primary status for PMSE in the Netherlands and to press the Dutch authorities to advocate this internationally.