Sennheiser has joined the North American Spectrum Alliance, a project of the non-profit North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) committed to identifying and taking action on technical and operational issues affecting radio and television broadcasters in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The alliance unites broadcasters, rightsholders, venues and the entertainment industry to protect the critical radio spectrum used for broadcasting, wireless microphones, cameras and other production tools – a goal that Sennheiser has been actively pursuing, too, both as a company and as a member of various associations.
The North American Spectrum Alliance presents a strong, unified voice for spectrum retention in a broadcast and production environment that is marked by recent spectrum reallocations and plans for potential additional UHF auctions. With ongoing encroachment from mobile services (IMT) and unlicenced devices, the association takes action to safeguard the resources that power content creation and delivery.
‘We believe that users of media spectrum in North America need to band together to defend all aspects of spectrum that the industry needs, and wireless audio is an essential part of this effort,’ says Rebecca Hanson, Director-General of NABA. ‘We welcome Sennheiser as a new member to the North American Spectrum Alliance. Their long-standing global advocacy for radio spectrum and leadership in wireless technologies will significantly strengthen our collective efforts.’
‘Our strategy revolves around forging meaningful alliances across industries, actively participating in standardisation efforts, and engaging in regulatory discussions,’ says Sennheiser Head of Spectrum Policy & Standards, Dr Andreas Wilzeck. ‘This approach allows us to effectively articulate and serve common interests, ultimately driving progress for our customers and the entire audio industry. Joining the North American Spectrum Alliance is a natural progression of this commitment, and we hope our decision will inspire others to follow suit.’
‘We firmly believe in the strength of collective action as we safeguard the TV-UHF band, which stands as the world’s most successful spectrum sharing ecosystem,’ adds Joe Ciaudelli, Director of Spectrum & Innovation for Sennheiser in the US. ‘Simultaneously, we’re actively pursuing additional frequency options and spearheading technological innovations like WMAS to fuel growth. This unified approach is not just important – it’s imperative. We cannot afford fragmentation among various interest groups. NABA’s initiative in bringing stakeholders together is commendable, and we’re fully committed to this collaborative journey.’
Wireless technology is behind the concert of a mega-star or an intimate gig in a club; it delivers the passion and excitement of sports to fans across the globe. Celebrations, theatre performances, live events, theme parks, exhibitions – all have come to rely on wireless to immerse their guests in a vivid, captivating experience. Entertainment, news gathering, exciting movies, documentaries are all produced using wireless technology. Behind all of this is the radio spectrum – a resource that is as finite as it is precious, and which is harnessed with expertise and care by professional users.
‘We welcome all users of media spectrum, be they large or small, to join the Spectrum Alliance,’ Hanson says. ‘Together, we can protect the future of wireless content creation.’
