Sprint Nextel announced that Yuma, AZ, is the first market to transition its Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS) spectrum under the FCC’s mandated 2GHz relocation. Broadcasters in the market are now operating on new digital equipment and within their new channel assignments.
Under terms of the FCC’s 800MHz Order, 2GHz BAS licensees, including KYMA-TV in Yuma, AZ, 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. 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.