If I had to venture a guess I would say that it's going to be sooner than later before we lose them. Just recently the old UHF television channel frequencies were put up for auction by the FCC, and the resulting sale was the largest amount EVER paid for frequencies to the FCC. Who bought them?? The major telecommunications companies. These frequencies are perfect for the long range transmission of wireless internet. They want these frequencies to feed wireless internet. So what does this have to do with us?? Our frequencies are nestled right in with the current VHF frequencies. Once those go offline as the industry goes digital those TV frequencies will become available for auction as well. Currently this is scheduled for this summer. As soon as this happens you will start seeing a push to shut down the 72 Mhz band by the FCC. I understand that the AMA will be our voice in Washington at the FCC, but considering that they will be speaking with the likes of AT&T, Verizon, and the other large telecoms I imagine the AMA's voice is going to be very weak indeed. 2.4 Ghz radios are more than likely going to be the last straw in this discussion. Since we have something else we can use there will be no argument about keeping the 72 Mhz range open.

Trust me that I'm not trying to be Mr. Doom and Gloom. I have 2.4 Ghz radios, but I also have 8 72 Mhz radios that get used. So I'm not in a hurry to see the 72 Mhz band die. But I'm also a realist in that it's more than likely going to happen. I would rather work at it a little bit at a time and move my stuff over to 2.4 instead of find out one day that I only have 30 days in order to have it switched out because I won't be able to use 72 Mhz any longer.

That's my 2¢ on the subject. Your mileage may vary.

Ken