§ 74.870   Wireless video assist devices.

   Link to an amendment published at  79 FR 48545 , August 15, 2014.

   Television broadcast auxiliary licensees and motion picture and
   television producers, as defined in § 74.801 may operate wireless video
   assist devices on a non-interference basis on VHF and UHF television
   channels to assist with production activities.

   (a) The use of wireless video assist devices must comply with all
   provisions of this subpart, except as indicated in paragraphs (b)
   through (i) of this section.

   (b) Wireless video assist devices may only be used for scheduled
   productions. They may not be used to produce live events and may not be
   used for electronic news gathering purposes.

   (c) Wireless video assist devices may operate with a bandwidth not to
   exceed 6 MHz on frequencies in the bands 180-210 MHz (TV channels 8-12)
   and 470-698 MHz (TV channels 14-51) subject to the following
   restrictions:

   (1) The bandwidth may only occupy a single TV channel.

   (2) Operation is prohibited within the 608-614 MHz (TV channel 37)
   band.

   (3) Operation is prohibited within 129 km of a television broadcasting
   station, including Class A television stations, low power television
   stations and translator stations.

   (4) For the area and frequency combinations listed in the table below,
   operation is prohibited within the distances indicated from the listed
   geographic coordinates.

   Note to the following table: All coordinates are referenced to the
   North American Datum of 1983.
   Area North latitude West longitude Excluded frequencies
   (MHz) Excluded channels
   200 km 128 km 52 km
   Boston, MA 42DEG21'24.4'' 71DEG03'23.2'' 470-476 14
       476-482 15
       482-488 16
       488-494 17
   Chicago, IL 41DEG52'28.1'' 87DEG38'22.2'' 470-476 14
       476-482 15
       482-488 16
   Cleveland, OH^1 41DEG29'51.2'' 81DEG41'49.5'' 470-476 14
       476-482 15
       482-488 16
       488-494 17
   Dallas/Fort Worth, TX 32DEG47'09.5'' 96DEG47'38.0'' 476-482 15
       482-488 16
       488-494 17
   Detroit, MI^1 42DEG19'48.1'' 83DEG02'56.7'' 470-476 14
       476-482 15
       482-488 16
       488-494 17
   Gulf of Mexico 476-494 15, 16, 17
   Hawaii 488-494 17
   Houston, TX 29DEG45'26.8'' 95DEG21'37.8'' 482-488 16
       488-494 17
       494-500 18
   Los Angeles, CA 34DEG03'15.0'' 118DEG14'31.3'' 470-476 14
       476-482 15
       482-488 16
       488-494 17
       500-506 19
       506-512 20
       512-518 21
   Miami, Fl 25DEG46'38.4'' 80DEG11'31.2'' 470-476 14
       476-482 15
   New York/NE New Jersey 40DEG45' 73DEG59'37.5'' 470-476 14
       476-482 15
       482-488 16
       488-494 17
       494-500 18
       500-506 19
       506-512 20
   Philadelphia, PA 39DEG56'58.4'' 75DEG09'19.6'' 494-500 18
       500-506 19
       506-512 20
       512-518 21
   Pittsburgh, PA 40DEG26'19.2'' 79DEG59'59.2'' 470-476 14
   476-482 15
   488-494 17
   494-500 18
   500-506 19
   San Francisco/Oakland, CA 37DEG46'38.7'' 122DEG24'43.9'' 476-482 15
   482-488 16
   488-494 17
   494-500 18
   Washington D.C./MD/VA 38DEG53'51.4'' 77DEG00'31.9'' 482-488 16
   488-494 17
   494-500 18
   500-506 19

   ^1The distance separation requirements are not applicable in these
   cities until further order from the Commission.

   (d) Wireless video assist devices are limited to a maximum of 250
   milliwatts ERP and must limit power to that necessary to reliably
   receive a signal at a distance of 300 meters. Wireless video assist
   devices must comply with the emission limitations of § 74.637.

   (e) The antenna of a wireless video assist device must be attached to
   the transmitter either permanently, or by means of a unique connector
   designed to allow replacement of authorized antennas but prevent the
   use of unauthorized antennas. When transmitting, the antenna must not
   be more that 10 meters above ground level.

   (f)(1) A license for a wireless video assist device will authorize the
   license holder to use all frequencies available for wireless video
   assist devices, subject to the limitations specified in this section.

   (2) Licensees may operate as many wireless video assist devices as
   necessary, subject to the notification procedures of this section.

   (g) Notification procedure. Prior to the commencement of transmitting,
   licensees must notify the local broadcasting coordinator of their
   intent to transmit. If there is no local coordinator in the intended
   area of operation, licensees must notify all adjacent channel TV
   stations within 161 km (100 mi) of the proposed operating area.

   (1) Notification must be made at least 10 working days prior to the
   date of intended transmission.

   (2) Notifications must include:

   (i) Frequency or frequencies.

   (ii) Location.

   (iii) Antenna height.

   (iv) Emission type(s).

   (v) Effective radiated power.

   (vi) Intended dates of operation.

   (vii) Licensee contact information.

   (3)(i) Failure of a local coordinator to respond to a notification
   request prior to the intended dates of operation indicated on the
   request will be considered as having the approval of the coordinator.
   In this case, licensees must in addition notify all co-channel and
   adjacent channel TV stations within 161 km (100 mi) of the proposed
   operating area. This notification is for information purposes only and
   will not enable TV stations to prevent a WAVD from operating, but is
   intended to help identify the source of interference if any is
   experienced after a WAVD begins operation.

   (ii) If there is no local coordinator in the intended area of
   operation, failure of any adjacent channel TV station to respond to a
   notification request prior to the intended dates of operation indicated
   on the request will be considered as having the approval of the TV
   station.

   (4) Licensees must operate in a manner consistent with the response of
   the local coordinator, or, if there is no local coordinator in the
   intended area of operation, the responses of the adjacent channel TV
   stations. Disagreements may be appealed to the Commission. However, in
   those instances, the licensee will bear the burden of proof and
   proceeding to overturn the recommendation of the local coordinator or
   the co-channel or adjacent channel TV station.

   (h) Licenses for wireless video assist devices may not be transferred
   or assigned.

   (i) The product literature that manufacturers include with a wireless
   assist video device must contain information regarding the requirement
   for users to obtain an FCC license, the requirement that stations must
   locate at least 129 kilometers away from a co-channel TV station, the
   limited class of users that may operate these devices, the authorized
   uses, the need for users to obtain a license, and the requirement that
   a local coordinator (or adjacent channel TV stations, if there is no
   local coordinator) must be notified prior to operation.

   [ 68 FR 12772 , Mar. 17, 2003, as amended at  68 FR 69331 , Dec. 12, 2003]

   return arrow Back to Top