Reports reveal scope of work remaining for 2GHz BAS relocation
Completion of the ongoing 2GHz TV Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS) relocation project is central to widespread use of HD ENG.
On March 7, Sprint Nextel submitted a report to the FCC on the progress of its efforts to relocate BAS operations to 12MHz-wide digital channels between 2025MHz and 2110MHz.
The report, which concluded by asking the commission for a 12 to 24 month extension on the September 2007 deadline to complete the project, sheds light on the scope of the effort.
Among the statistics in the report were:
- There are about 1000 BAS license holders affected by the relocation;
- To date, two markets — Yuma, AZ, and Lima, OH — have completed the transition;
- All eligible BAS licensees "are now engaged" in the process;
- Sprint Nextel has verified the equipment inventories of 80 percent of licensees;
- The company has completed "individualized template contracts" will all major groups, which account for 65 percent of BAS licensees;
- Sprint Nextel has spent more than $186 million to create an inventory of new digital microwave radios and antennas;
- The company has funded the production of more than 6000 transmitters and receivers, 4000 controllers, 2000 antennas and antenna upgrades to date;
- Sprint Nextel has completed 22 percent of all Frequency Relocation Agreements (FRA);
- Each FRA averages 35 pages with two seven-page amendments;
- When considered together, FRAs will account for about 50,000 pages when the project is finished; if stacked on top of each other, the FRAs would create a stack nearly two stories high.
To learn more about the status of the relocation project, read: "Sprint Nextel requests FCC extension of 2GHz BAS relocation deadline."
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