Shure Forms Wireless Microphone Spectrum Alliance

Shure Incorporated is forming the Wireless Microphone Spectrum Alliance (WMSA), a coalition of stakeholders committed to ensuring access to RF spectrum for wireless microphones. This alliance will include end users, content creators, live production service providers, equipment manufacturers, and other stakeholders.

Wireless microphones are essential for many activities, including concerts, events, corporate presentations, houses of worship, sports, film production, television, music, conferences, community meetings, and more across the US.

The alliance aims to advocate for access to the RF spectrum that allows those events to operate using wireless microphones. Whether on a global stage or a community platform, preserving spectrum is vital for many reasons. Diverse industries rely on spectrum to successfully produce their events, which is a significant source of revenue, creating jobs, fostering innovation, and creating collaboration.

WMSA's mission is to: ensure the availability of spectrum for wireless microphone users across various industries; highlight through education the critical importance of spectrum for concerts, live sports, live events, concerts, the film industry, broadcast, theatre, worship, and other content creators; create a platform for stakeholders to join forces in advocating for spectrum preservation; work closely with the FCC, Congress, and other policymakers to advocate for sufficient spectrum allocations for current and future wireless microphone use ; and encourage public involvement through outreach and events that demonstrate the necessity of wireless spectrum and the impact its loss would have on various productions.

Without proper spectrum availability for wireless microphones, many cities may not be able to successfully operate large-scale sporting events like the Super Bowl or the Olympic Games. Wireless microphones are used extensively for a wide variety of activities during these events, including press conferences onsite TV and radio production, pre-show concerts; fundraisers/community events; national anthems; halftime shows; broadcast microphones; referee/official microphones; public address and public safety microphones; and many other activities.

In a statement, the company says, "As the US is preparing to host major events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games, the" ability to support these activities with necessary spectrum is critical.

Organizations interested in joining this effort can contact Prakash Moorut (global head of spectrum and regulatory affairs at Shure) at moorutp@shure.com.