FCC Ban Silences Preachers

Nanny State Liberation Front ^ | 06/10/2010 | NSLF

[H8LIBERALS]

If you're hoping to hear the Word of God being preached from the pulpit next time you go to church, you might want to brush-up on your lip reading skills.

A new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule that goes in to effect on June 12 mandates that anyone or organization that uses a wireless microphone operating in the 700 MHz band must cease and desist. Countless ministers across the nation will likely be struggling to amplify their voices for their congregations to hear this weekend.

Do not be alarmed if your church minister is suddenly arrested by federal agents during Sunday service. He or she has been warned by the FCC that resistance to the wireless microphone ban is futile ...

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Thanks for the correction.

[bamahead]

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[Niteranger68]

The United States has outlawed the continued use of many items that were legal when purchased. Several times the FCC has mandated changes to radio or television that turned a very expensive item into a shelf curiosity without compensation.It resembles eminent domain. Once legal firearms have been turned overnight into banned instruments of evillll.And the list goes on.

True......but no longer acceptable.

[excopconservative]

Also the microphone 700 mhz signal can be coded (like wireless telephones) and then decoded in the audio amplifier to eliminate interference.
- - - - - - - -
Encoding a signal does not remove the signal. It’s still present and although it may not be readable, it still interferes with other signals on the frequency. Digital voice transmissions are very susceptible to interference from any signal present. The FCC often underestimates the number of unlicensed low power devices that are in use and therefore the difficulty in removing them from service.

[DBrow]

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones/

[Man50D]

Regulating communications is not an enumerated power in Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution. Therefore the FCC is unconstitutional and must be abolished.

[Danae]

The FCC should be arrested for violating the constitution.

If I were a preacher, I would kick the FCC out of service so hard they would BOUNCE 50 feet with the wrath of G-d movin em along.

[MediaMole]

This has nothing to do with churches. The FCC is not targeting preachers.

The 700 MHZ band was changed to public service as part of the digital TV switchover and all microphone systems using that band have to be shut off. This affects all users, including theaters and TV news crews. There have been a lot of changes in frequency spectrum use that has affected all types of users including police and fire departments.

Unfortunately, even though this has been in the works for many years, some unscrupulous companies continued to sell these microphone systems despite the impending ban.

There are plenty of new microphone systems that comply with the law.

And no one is going to show up and drag you minister off in handcuffs.

Sometimes, I wonder if liberals are writing this stuff to make conservatives look bad.

[Paleo Conservative]

H8LIBERALS

Why the 700 MHZ range? Are there others available?

Is there a stated reason?

The bands are being reallocated. It's related to the switch to digital TV. The 700 Mhz range is being reallocated for public safety use. Everyone affected has been aware of this for years.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones/

[verity]

Thanks for posting the facts.

[Russ]

The constitutional authority to do this is...?

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

In fact, regulating communications is prohibitted by the 1st Amendment.

If they want an FCC, let them amend the Constitution for things the founders never thought of.

[a fool in paradise]

These frequencies are now being used by public safety entities (such as police, fire and emergency services) and by commercial providers of wireless services (such as wireless broadband services).

Without redaction.

[Paleo Conservative]

Thanks for posting the facts.

You're welcome.

I have a cousin who works as a DJ and sound man for various rock bands. He mentioned this issue back in 2008 when we were pall bearers at our grandmother's funeral. The equipment isn't worthless. It can be sold to people in other parts of the world that don't have this ban.

[DYngbld]

You know now that you mention it I do remember reading about this a few years ago. With the shift to digital TV there would be an opening in the spectrum, I remember several groups petitioning to use this "new" space.

I DON'T get paid to make these decisions. (or type for that matter)

[I Buried My Guns]

I’ll be waiting with baited breath to find out how many Clergy are hauled off in handcuffs this weekend by Federales.

Please Mr. JBT, take Osteen first!

[RFEngineer]

“The bands are being reallocated.”

No, the ban on 700MHz microphones only applies to Creationist churches. It seems the “powers that be” want Darwin’s Evolution to be spread with all due amplification.

Interestingly, the Mormons have an exemption too. I wonder why?

[Grunthor]

Smaller crowds or better accoustics.

[verity]

"No, the ban on 700MHz microphones only applies to Creationist churches. It seems the “powers that be” want Darwin’s Evolution to be spread with all due amplification."

What are you smoking?

[RFEngineer]

“What are you smoking?”

I am making fun of this article. Turning a mundane regulatory action many years in the making into an issue of freedom of speech/freedom of religion is pretty funny stuff.

So please don’t interrupt me while I’m stirring the pot, and fomenting hysteria.