Your sermons could be breaking the law

Unfortunately, in this Tech Talk article I need to be the bearer of bad news. Many of our Indiana churches use wireless microphones and, sadly, some types were recently outlawed.  On June 12, 2010, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed a new law banning use of all wireless microphones in the 700 MHz Band. Let me explain a little more of what this means.

Wireless devices are set to transmit or receive signals on a certain Mega Hertz (MHz) frequency.  Every wireless microphone or wireless in-ear monitor that your church uses is set to a particular frequency, or across a range of frequencies.  The FCC is banning use on all wireless devices that use any frequency between 698MHz and 806MHz.

Why? The 700MHz range is being restricted for use only by public safety entities such as police, fire and emergency services. The last thing we want is to have an ambulance miss a radio call because we are using our microphones.

How do we know if this affects our microphones?  There are three relatively easy ways to find out.

1. Take a look!  The MHz number should be written on both the microphone and the receiver.  It should look something like Freq. Range – B2: 626-662 MHz, or 656.825 MHz.
2. Go to www.scbi.org/techtalk and click “Microphone Manufacturers’ List.”  This will link you to a page on the FCC website that lists most of the microphones affected by the change.
3. If you still aren’t sure, contact the FCC directly at 1-888-CALL-FCC. They will help you figure it out.

What do we do about it? If you have microphones that operate on this frequency, stop using them right away! Not only can you get a huge fine from using the equipment, but interfering with emergency signals is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment. We don’t want any pastors in prison, so please check your microphones!

What do we do with our old microphones? Donate them to a church in another country where there is no law against the 700MHz band! Instead of having your old equipment go to waste, you can help transform a needy church on the other side of the world. Simply send your equipment to SCBI – Tech Talk, 900 N High School Road, Indianapolis, IN 46214. We will make sure it gets to a church that needs it.

If you have any questions, or would like help choosing a new microphone, email ywall@scbi.org or call 317-481-2400 ext.240. I will be happy to help however I can.

Do you want to reach more of Indiana and the world with the Gospel of Jesus?
Maybe it’s time to add a new weapon to your arsenal: your computer.

Facebook, a social networking website, has more than 250 million active users across the globe who spend an average of 8.3 million hours using Facebook on any given day. That means that if Facebook were its own country, it would be the fourth largest in the world, right between the United States and Brazil. If you think that’s crazy, think about the fact that every month there are 31 billion searches on Google, an internet search engine.

We’ve come to a day when people who are seeking for answers aren’t walking through the doors of a church. Instead, they head for the Internet, seeking their meaning in artificial reflections of life because it’s all they know. As Christians, our goal is to know God and make Him known, and making God known means meeting people where they are.

Whether or not we like it, the place you’ll find people today is online: on their desktops, laptops, netbooks, Blackberries and iPhones.

What do we do about this?
• 80% of people say that they will look at the website of a church before they ever see the church building. Get a teenager in your church to build your church website.
• Only 25% of people say they read the newspaper, yet 63% say they watch TV. Invest in a projector for worship lyrics and sermon notes.
• The number of text messages sent and received on cell phones today will total about seven billion, exceeding the total population of the earth. Send text messages and emails inviting people to special events.

Technology can be a hindrance in your church or it can be a help, it’s your choice.

Look in the next Indiana Baptist Magazine for more Tech Talk.