Sprint Nextel, Tribune Broadcasting and Hearst-Argyle Television announced completion of Frequency Relocation Agreements (FRA) for one each of the broadcasters’ group-owned stations as part of the 2GHz Relocation project.
Under terms of the FCC’s 800MHz Order, 2GHz Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS) licensees, which include the Tribune and Hearst-Argyle-owned stations, must relocate to new spectrum assignments by September 2007. Sprint Nextel is responsible for reimbursing BAS licensees for the cost of relocating to comparable facilities within the 2GHz spectrum band. BAS licensees use this spectrum to transmit local news from remote locations back to the studio. One agreement covers Tribune-owned WGN in Chicago, and the other covers Hearst-Argyle-owned WESH in Orlando.
The FCC has licensed Sprint Nextel to use a portion of the 2GHz band for commercial mobile radio services upon relocation of the BAS licensees. The agreements announced today will allow the companies to move ahead with the relocation process and assist the broadcasters in their transition to digital broadcast news services.
