About Relocation > Guidelines

Guidance on Equipment Eligibility

Sprint Nextel will compensate eligible broadcasters for their costs in achieving "comparable facilities" to their current 2 GHz equipment.  For example, this compensation would include items such as radios, backup radios, and equipment as well as other items necessary to support a conversion to comparable-quality reduced-deviation ENG operations.

Although new items that would not be required for digital operation (such as new quad-polarity antennas or omni-directional transmit antennas) will be excluded, replacement or upgrades to existing 2 GHz equipment will be covered.  For example, if a station currently uses a quad-polarity antenna that requires upgrade or replacement as part of the relocation, this would be eligible for compensation.

Sprint Nextel also will compensate eligible broadcasters for the relocation of 2 GHz fixed links to the digital equivalent.  At the broadcaster's option, the value of this compensation may be applied toward the price of a conversion to 7 GHz/13GHz fiber, with the excess cost being met by the broadcaster.

For additional information about Broadcaster Compensation, please click here.

Policy for Preliminary Inventory Activities

Sprint Nextel has received questions from eligible broadcasters concerning the repayment of costs incurred in examining and documenting current 2 GHz equipment inventory.  Sprint Nextel's "Policy Statement on Preparatory 2 GHz Inventory Activities for Eligible BAS Licensees," which can be viewed by clicking here, provides guidance regarding principles on reimbursement for these inventory-associated tasks.  In summary, Sprint Nextel's policy is that:

• Sprint Nextel will consider reasonable, documented fees and costs associated with performing a single inventory of 2 GHz equipment to be eligible for reimbursement;
• Sprint Nextel reserves the right not to reimburse any fees or costs that are unreasonable or inadequately documented;
• The reimbursement will not occur until a Frequency Relocation Agreement is signed by both Sprint Nextel and the broadcaster.

If you have further questions, please contact your region's Senior Spectrum Resource Manager by clicking here.

Principles for Helicopter Equipment

Broadcasters engaged in the work of newsgathering and broadcasting often rely on programmed material originated from helicopters leased from helicopter companies.  In many cases the helicopters are outfitted with 2 GHz equipment used to transmit the programmed material to a broadcaster's receive equipment.  In order to provide "comparable facilities" to broadcasters that rely on this service, Sprint Nextel is working with eligible helicopter companies throughout the United States to provide 2 GHz relocation reimbursement.

Sprint Nextel will consider a helicopter company for relocation if it can demonstrate (1) that it has a wirtten contract in effect prior to November 22, 2004 with an eligible broadcaster, and (2) the eligible broadcaster submits a letter to Sprint Nextel indicating the broadcaster requires the helicopter equipment to be relocated to maintain "comparable facilities."

In general broadcasters that rely on helicopter 2GHz services are classified into one of three categories: (1) the helicopter company owns the helicopter and the equipment, (2) the helicopter company owns the helicopter and the broadcaster owns the equipment, or (3) the broadcaster owns the helicopter and the equipment.  The classification determines how a broadcaster's inventory and reimbursement will be handled.

• Helicopter company owns the helicopter and the equipment: Sprint Nextel is working with the helicopter company to replace the equipment on the market's relocation timeline.  The broadcaster SHOULD NOT enter the equipment into Sprint Nextel's inventory web site and the broadcaster's only action item is to provide Sprint Nextel with the name of the helicopter company and contact information.
• Helicopter company owns the helicopter and broadcaster owns the equipment: The broadcaster SHOULD enter the equipment into Sprint Nextel's inventory web site and the equipment will be included as part of the broadcaster's relocation compensation.  The broadcaster is responsible for making arrangements with the helicopter company for equipment installation on the market's relocation timeline.
• Broadcaster owns helicopter and equipment: The broadcaster SHOULD enter the equipment into Sprint Nextel's inventory web site and the equipment will be included as part of the broadcaster's relocation compensation.  The broadcaster is responsible for installing the equipment on the market's relocation timeline.