WASHINGTON-Nextel Communications Inc. has agreed to pay the relocation costs of the broadcast auxiliary services in the 1.9 GHz band and in return has obtained the support of the National Association of Broadcasters and the Association for Maximum Service Television for the Consensus Plan to solve the public-safety interference problem in the 800 MHz band.
“In return for receiving replacement spectrum at 1.9 GHz, Nextel has agreed to provide relocation compensation for stations and deploy future Nextel service in a way that avoids limiting electronic news-gathering operations. The American public benefits from local stations in all television markets being able to provide a maximum level of remote electronic news gathering,” said NAB, MSTV and Nextel.
Nextel’s offer to pay for BAS is contingent upon receiving spectrum in the 1.9 GHz band and receiving credit for paying for the BAS relocation in any final plan the Federal Communications Commission proposes to solve public-safety interference.
The agreement is the latest in the maneuvering between backers of the Consensus Plan, including Nextel and several public-safety groups, and the rival Balanced Approach Plan, supported by the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association and most other wireless carriers. Last week, CTIA offered a proposal that included giving Nextel 2.1 GHz spectrum instead of 1.9 GHz spectrum, a plan that Nextel rejected.
