Broadcast auxiliary service
Encyclopedia
A broadcast auxiliary service or BAS is any radio frequency
system used by a radio station
or TV station, which is not part of its direct broadcast
to listeners or viewers. These are essentially internal-use backhaul channels not intended for actual reception
by the public, but part of the airchain
required to get those signals to such a transmitter.
Examples include:
, the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) moved TV channels in the 2 GHz TV BAS band. This was done at the request of Sprint Nextel
, so that it could use the current BAS band, which is adjacent to PCS frequencies it already uses. The report and order resulting from this rulemaking
specified that Sprint/Nextel must pay for every TV station in the country to buy and install new BAS equipment to equally replace what they have now (although not every station uses BAS).
Previously, there were seven analog TV channels, each 17 or 18 MHz wide, between 1990 and 2110 MHz. There are now seven new digital TV channels, each 12 MHz wide, from 2025 to 2110 MHz. There was also a "narrowed in place" bandplan
used as an interim
measure, as the two bands overlap. Begun in 2005, the relocation was 94% complete as of October 2008, and was expected to be fully complete in mid 2009. After multiple extensions granted by the FCC, it was finally done in July 2010, with the completion of the Anchorage, Alaska
TV market.
The cleared band will now be used for PCS, AWS, and MSS services, including mobile broadband
.
Radio frequency
Radio frequency is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals...
system used by a radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
or TV station, which is not part of its direct broadcast
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
to listeners or viewers. These are essentially internal-use backhaul channels not intended for actual reception
Reception
Reception is a noun form of receiving, or to receive something, such as information, art, experience, or people. It is often used in the following contexts:...
by the public, but part of the airchain
Airchain
In broadcast engineering for radio or television, the airchain or transmission chain is the path or route an audio or video signal takes on its way through a radio station or television station.The airchain begins with cameras, microphones, CD players, turntables, telephone hybrids, video tape...
required to get those signals to such a transmitter.
Examples include:
- studio/transmitter linkStudio/transmitter linkA studio-transmitter link sends a radio station's or television station's audio and video from the broadcast studio to a radio transmitter or television transmitter in another location....
(STL) - transmitter/studio linkTransmitter/studio linkThe transmitter/studio link of a radio station or television station is a return link which sends telemetry data from the remotely-located radio transmitter or television transmitter back to the studio for monitoring purposes...
(TSL) - remote pickup unitRemote pickup unitA remote pickup unit or RPU is a radio system using special radio frequencies set aside for electronic news gathering and remote broadcasting. It can also be used for other types of point-to-point radio links....
(RPU) - electronic news gatheringElectronic news gatheringENG is a broadcasting industry acronym which stands for electronic news gathering. It can mean anything from a lone broadcast journalist reporter taking a single professional video camera out to shoot a story, to an entire television crew taking a production truck or satellite truck on location...
(ENG)
2GHz relocation
In the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) moved TV channels in the 2 GHz TV BAS band. This was done at the request of Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel Corporation is an American telecommunications company based in Overland Park, Kansas. The company owns and operates Sprint, the third largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, with 53.4 million customers, behind Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility...
, so that it could use the current BAS band, which is adjacent to PCS frequencies it already uses. The report and order resulting from this rulemaking
Rulemaking
In administrative law, rulemaking refers to the process that executive and independent agencies use to create, or promulgate, regulations. In general, legislatures first set broad policy mandates by passing statutes, then agencies create more detailed regulations through rulemaking.By bringing...
specified that Sprint/Nextel must pay for every TV station in the country to buy and install new BAS equipment to equally replace what they have now (although not every station uses BAS).
Previously, there were seven analog TV channels, each 17 or 18 MHz wide, between 1990 and 2110 MHz. There are now seven new digital TV channels, each 12 MHz wide, from 2025 to 2110 MHz. There was also a "narrowed in place" bandplan
Bandplan
A bandplan or band plan is a plan for using a particular band of radio frequencies, that are a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum . Each bandplan defines the frequency range to be included, how channels are to be defined, and what will be carried on those channels...
used as an interim
Interim
Interim is an album by British rock band The Fall, compiled from live and studio material and released in 2004. It features the first officially released versions of "Clasp Hands", "Blindness" and "What About Us?" — all of which were later included on the band's next studio album Fall Heads Roll —...
measure, as the two bands overlap. Begun in 2005, the relocation was 94% complete as of October 2008, and was expected to be fully complete in mid 2009. After multiple extensions granted by the FCC, it was finally done in July 2010, with the completion of the Anchorage, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
TV market.
The cleared band will now be used for PCS, AWS, and MSS services, including mobile broadband
Mobile Broadband
Mobile broadband is the marketing term for wireless Internet access through a portable modem, mobile phone or other mobile device.-Description:...
.