JANUARY: NABA Launches NASPA
On January 8, NABA launched the North American Spectrum Alliance, an initiative that aims to unite broadcasters, service providers, equipment manufacturers, frequency coordinators, venues and other players in the media industry in a collective mission to protect the crucial spectrum needed for content creation and distribution, be it for broadcasting, wireless microphones and cameras, satellite trucks, and other production tools.
The Alliance is Chaired by Brad Cheney, VP of Field Operations and Engineering, FOX Sports, and Henry Cohen, President, CP Communications, is Vice Chair.
To learn more, visit https://nabanet.com/naspa.
NASPA activities officially kicked off with two focused briefings. On January 14, Joe Ciaudelli, Director of Spectrum & Innovation at Sennheiser, outlined tightening pressures wireless mic band, from growing at-event demand to renewed auction chatter. Two days later, on January 16, Henry Cohen examined the danger to wireless cameras and other devices that operate in bands above 1 GHz. Together, the sessions helped frame NASPA’s goals, reinforcing its push to safeguard production-critical spectrum.
FEBRUARY: Wireless Mics and Cameras in Europe
In February, Darko Ratkaj and Susanne Rath, of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), shared a European perspective on programme-making and special events (PMSE) spectrum, highlighting just how dependent live production remains on UHF spectrum. They used the example of frequency coordination for a multi-country Guns N’ Roses tour in the summer of 2025 to demonstrate the challenges of finding enough UHF spectrum to support the show in each venue. They also walked through WRC-23 outcomes and the next review cycles for WRC-27/31, underlining that national decisions will determine whether PMSE can continue to operate in key bands. Their core message for NASPA members: PMSE is a fragmented community, so we need to “join forces” and speak with one voice to protect the spectrum that makes live production possible.
APRIL – MAY: NASPA’s First In-Person Meeting at NAB Show & First Filings
In April, the North American Spectrum Alliance held its first in-person meeting at the NAB Show in Las Vegas.
We had representatives from ATSC, NAB, FOX, CP Communications, PSSI, Arktec, Freeman, SVG, and Dolby around the table—with observers from Nexonic Design and Warner Bros. also present. The meeting focused on the FCC’s C-band Notice of Inquiry and strategies regarding how to respond, including lessons learned from the Lower C-band auction.
Shortly after, the Alliance made its first filings in the for three major FCC proceedings:
- Upper C-Band Reallocation (Spectrum)
- “Delete, Delete, Delete” (Wireless Microphones)
- NAB Petition for Rulemaking (ATSC 3.0)
In the Upper C-band filing, NASPA Members advocated for sustained incumbent spectrum use, pushing back against reallocating more C-band for 5G wireless applications and impressing upon the Commission that there is no comparable replacement for this spectrum in transporting broadcast and other media content.
In the “Delete, Delete, Delete” filing, NASPA again urged sustained use of spectrum for incumbent users, specifically when it comes to wireless microphones. As part of this filing, the Alliance made the following asks:
- Modernize its antiquated approach to Special Temporary Authorization for wireless microphone licensing;
- Authorize long-proven guard bands for licensed use, and right-size protection rules (e.g., 15 km radii) and lift blanket indoor bans where low-power devices self-mitigate; and
- Reduce the 50-device minimum for Part 74 licenses.
Finally, in response to the NAB ATSC 3.0 petition, NASPA agreed with Shure’s Wireless Microphone Spectrum Alliance that sunsetting ATSC 1.0 must not interfere with the 2028 Olympics and that efforts should be made to prevent it from interfering with wireless microphones.
In May, the Alliance focused on follow-up meetings and filed Reply Comments in FCC spectrum proceedings.
JULY & AUGUST: The C-Band Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
With the Congressional mandate for the FCC to auction at least 100 MHz of Upper C-band spectrum by July 4, 2027, Alliance members met regularly to fine tune their arguments for C-band preservation and maximum compensation for cost of transitioning. Over the summer, sub-groups met to discuss discrete issues including cap at 100 MHz, maintaining incumbent service qualitywith flexible substitutions (Ku/fiber/other), full reimbursement (including prior sunk costs), avoiding fiber-as-default, improvements to the clearinghouse process, protecting and prioritizing 6.325–6.425 GHz uplinks, and ensuring any industry working groups have enforcement capability.
Some members met with the FCC’s OET and OGC, and Wireless and Space Bureau representatives to share these and other concerns.
OCTOBER: SVG TranSPORT and PMSE Survey
At the SVG TranSPORT conference in New York, Brad Cheney highlighted the work of the Alliance in a focused session titled “Spectrum Wars: The FCC Strikes Back”.
Meanwhile, in an effort to create a “best practices” document for managing spectrum on-site at live events, NASPA prepared a brief survey, designed to identify common challenges that broadcast media operators and production teams regularly face.
A link to the survey is available here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2CMBLJB
We look forward to sharing the results with all Alliance members once enough responses have been received.
NOVEMBER: Joint NABA-TC / WBU-IMCG Meeting on Media Connectivity
On November 13, the NABA Technical Committee and WBU IMCG held a joint meeting on media connectivity at Paramount’s New York facility, graciously hosted by Ken Fuller, VP of Distribution and Technology. The session included NASPA members as important connectivity providers to examine how evolving wireless spectrum use, private 5G, and IP-based distribution are reshaping live production and contribution workflows.
Discussions explored C-band replacement solutions such as hybrid network architectures that blend satellite, fiber, IP, and cellular links; strategies to improve reliability and redundancy for major events; and the opportunities and limitations of emerging technologies such as LEO satellite services and 5G broadcast. Participants also looked at the transition to IP video distribution and how future standards and carrier partnerships can better support sports and news production. This work aligns closely with NASPA’s focus on protecting critical spectrum and ensuring resilient connectivity for broadcasters across North America.
LOOKING AHEAD
2026 will be a busy year for the Alliance, as the FCC rules for the Upper C-Band auction are prepared. In addition, the Alliance will continue to watch for threats to wireless mic and camera spectrum, including the CBRS spectrum.
