Broadcast Auxiliary
Broadcast Auxiliary authorization is available to licensees of Broadcast stations and to Broadcast or Cable Network entities. Certain entities involved in production activities are also eligible for Low Power Broadcast Auxiliary authorizations.
Broadcast Auxiliary stations are used for relaying broadcast aural and television signals. They can be used to relay signals from the studio to the transmitter, or between two points, such as a main studio and an auxiliary studio. The Broadcast Auxiliary services also include mobile TV pickups and remote pickup stations which relay signals from a remote location, back to the studio.
Parent Broadcast Station information for AM, FM, or TV broadcast stations may be retrieved via the
AM Query,
FM Query, or the
TV Query.
Frequency Coordination Requirements for Broadcast Auxiliary Services Effective 10/16/2003
In the Report & Order to ET Docket 01-75, released November 13, 2002, the Commission adopted coordination procedures for fixed Aural Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS) stations above 944 MHz and Television BAS stations above 2110 MHz under Part 74 of the rules. The rules adopted require all fixed stations in these bands to use the frequency coordination procedures of Section 101.103(d). Part 101 procedures require parties to coordinate their planned spectrum use with potentially affected parties prior to filing a license application for a new station, a major modification to an existing station, or a major amendment to a pending application. A
listing of frequency coordinators for microwave services is available. Mobile BAS stations, fixed Aural BAS stations below 944 MHz and fixed Television BAS stations below 2110 MHz can utilize local coordination procedures which are administered by the
Society of Broadcast Engineers.
2 GHz Relocation
BAS licensees in the 1990-2025 MHz band ("2 GHz band") are subject to relocation (for emerging technologies such as PCS, MSS) to a new BAS channel plan in the 2025-2110 MHz band. More information on the transition and new BAS channel plan can be found in Part 2 (notes NG 156 and NG 177 to Section 2.106 (Table of Allocations)) and Part 74 (Section 74.602 (Frequency assignments), and Section 74.690 (Transition of the 1990-2025 MHz band from the Broadcast Auxiliary Service to emerging technologies)) of the
Commission's Rules.
Nextel BAS-relocation plan- In 2004 the Commission adopted the 800 MHz Report and Order (
pdf) (modified by Supplemental Order and Order on Reconsideration (
pdf) and Memorandum Opinion and Order (
pdf)) which granted Nextel the use of spectrum at 1.9 GHz and established provisions for Nextel's clearing the 1990-2025 MHz band segment of BAS incumbents. Specifically, Nextel's licenses are conditioned on Nextel following a
relocation plan (
pdf) (filed with FCC on April 6, 2005) that Nextel was required to develop with the Association for Maximum Service Television (MSTV), the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE), and other interested broadcast parties. Nextel (now Sprint Nextel) has a website with additional information on this process:
On September 4, 2007, Sprint Nextel, MSTV, NAB and SBE filed a Joint Petition (
pdf) requesting that the Commission waive the current BAS transition completion date for an additional twenty-nine months. On September 7, 2007 the Commission on its own motion (
pdf) extended the deadline by which Sprint Nextel Corporation (Sprint Nextel) is required to complete the transition of the broadcast auxiliary service (BAS) to frequencies above 2025 MHz by 60 days in order to allow time to consider the joint petition.
Special Temporary Authorization
Applications filed to obtain Special Temporary Authority (STA) in the services described in 47 C.F.R. §1.913(d) may be filed electronically, or manually.
Construction/Coverage Requirements
The FCC requires most wireless telecommunications services licensees 1) to construct their authorized system or meet specific coverage requirements within a given time period and 2) to notify the Commission that the requirement has been met. This time period varies depending on the radio service in which the license is held.
Releases
To view and download related Public Notices, Orders, Letters and News Releases, see
Releases.
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