FCC's Plans to Move Cordless Microphone Frequencies Could Disrupt Broadway Airwaves

According to The New York Times, potential plans by the Federal Communications Commission to move cordless microphone users to a new, and less desirable spot, on the airwaves, could have a large effect on Broadway - both onstage and off.

"It's easy for other users of the same spectrum to overpower wireless microphones," said the Broadway League in a statement to the FCC, and the interference "could devastate the sound and stagecraft at major productions, potentially causing physical harm to actors and production works, serious artistic and cultural losses and -- considering the importance of live entertainment to the American economy -- significant financial damage."

The FCC, backed by Congress, states that airwaves are public property and that theaters and other such users have received free access for many years. Wireless microphones, alongside Wi-Fi routers, garage door openers, TV remotes and more, fall under the category of devices that get unlicensed access to the nation's frequencies.

The FCC wants to auction off the airwaves now used by Broadway singers, NFL coaches and others to licensed smartphone companies. This proposed auction would also use the first $7 billion raised to build a nationwide safety communications network.