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 NEWS  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  TTY  202  /  418-  2555  Fax-  On-  Demand  202  /  418-  2830  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp.  fcc.  gov  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE:  News  Media  Contact: 
 November  13,  2002  Lisa  Gaisford  (202)  418-  7280  E-  mail:  lgaisfor@  fcc.  gov 
 FCC  UPDATES  RULES  FOR  BROADCAST  AUXILIARY  SERVICE  WHICH  WILL  HELP  FURTHER  THE  DIGITAL  TRANSITION 
 Washington,  DC  -  The  Federal  Communications  Commission  adopted  a  Report  and  Order  (Order)  updating  the  Broadcast  Auxiliary  Service  (BAS)  rules  to  enable  BAS  licensees  throughout  the 
 country  to  take  advantage  of  the  latest  digital  technology.  BAS  stations  are  used  by  broadcast  stations  to  conduct  electronic  news  gathering  (ENG)  and  to  transmit  broadcast  material  from  the  studio  to  the 
 transmitter  (Studio-  to-  Transmitter  Link  or  STL).  The  Order  addresses  the  broadcast  industry’s  desire  to  use  the  latest  digital  technology  in  all  frequency  bands  allocated  for  the  BAS.  The  rules  adopted  in  this 
 Order  will  help  ensure  a  smooth  transition  from  analog  to  digital  TV  and  enable  broadcasters  to  have  an  end-  to-  end  digital  broadcasting  system  using  any  BAS  frequency  band. 


 The  Order  conforms  certain  technical  rules,  such  as  transmitter  power  and  emission  limits,  for  the  BAS,  Cable  Television  Relay  Service  (CARS)  and  Fixed  Microwave  Services  (FS),  and  allows  certain 
 additional  users  of  wireless  assist  video  devices  on  unused  TV  channels.  The  Commission  further  adopted  rule  changes  designed  to  increase  spectrum  efficiency  by  ensuring  that  similar  services  operating 
 on  shared  spectrum  are  regulated  in  a  consistent  manner.  The  BAS,  CARS,  and  FS  share  several  frequency  bands,  but  in  some  cases  have  operated  under  different  technical  rules. 


 In  addition,  today’s  action  adopts  modifications  to  simplify  and  streamline  the  BAS  rules.  These  include  extending  to  all  BAS  licenses  the  ability  to  operate  under  temporary  conditional  authority, 
 implementing  common  coordination  procedures  for  BAS  bands,  and  ensuring  that  BAS  licensees  can  take  full  advantage  of  the  Commission’s  Universal  Licensing  System.  These  rule  changes  will  expedite  the 
 time  it  takes  for  an  applicant  to  begin  providing  service. 
 Finally,  the  Commission  adopted  new  rules  allow  motion  picture  and  television  producers  to  use  wireless  assist  video  devices  on  unused  TV  channels,  under  certain  conditions  designed  to  protect  current 
 users  of  the  band.  These  devices  produce  low  resolution  video  images  and  are  used  by  production  crews  for  content,  lighting  and  image  framing.  Currently,  these  devices  may  be  used  by  broadcasters  to  assist 
 them  in  producing  films  and  programs.  This  action  extends  the  use  of  these  devices  to  all  film  and  program  producers. 


 Action  by  the  Commission  October  30,  2002,  by  Report  and  Order  (FCC  02-  298).  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Copps,  and  Martin. 
 -  FCC  - 
 Staff  contact:  Ted  Ryder,  OET  at  (202)  418-  2803,  e-  mail:  tryder@  fcc.  gov 
 ET  Docket  No.  01-  75 
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