Columbia, MD, Jan. 29, 2018 - Throughout the ongoing 39-month FCC repack that started in

Rohde & Schwarz Offers Installation Solutions for FCC Repack Stations 29th January 2018

Columbia, MD, Jan. 29, 2018 - Throughout the ongoing 39-month FCC repack that started in April 2017, 1,049 stations in North America will change channels to clear spectrum space for wireless broadband services. A significant number of these stations have already hired Rohde & Schwarz to provide a turnkey solution for their transmission and other in-building equipment needs to support the FCC repack. Rohde & Schwarz can support the end-to-end needs of customers for any aspect of the repack, from a complete turnkey solution to a la carte services, and can assist with stations simultaneously upgrading to support ATSC 3.0. Dermac Group, an exclusive Rohde & Schwarz partner, supports Rohde & Schwarz's installation services and coordinates efforts with many of the top contractors in the industry to handle the very specialized work required for the repack. The FCC has set a very compact timeline, the availability of resources is very slim, and the knowledge of this new technology is limited as well, explained Robert Mac McAfee, executive vice president and COO of Dermac Group. Rohde & Schwarz's partnership with Dermac Group is helping various stations with keeping their FCC repack transitions on track, said Erik Balladares, Vice President of the Broadcast & Media Division at Rohde & Schwarz USA, Inc. Our comprehensive turnkey solutions deliver more efficient installations and full documentation for faster FCC reimbursement. According to McAfee, single-owner stations may not have the internal resources or expertise to manage all aspects of the build. Plus, it can be almost impossible to maintain day-to-day operations without being overwhelmed with repack technical issues and FCC reimbursement paperwork. For station groups, even the ones with subsidiary companies that handle aspects of equipment installation, Rohde & Schwarz's turnkey service can improve efficiencies and provide a single methodology for processing orders. Dermac can install equipment, decommission old equipment, properly dispose of hazardous materials, and coordinate efforts with other contractors, when necessary. All customers receive a scope of work (SOW) and dedicated project manager. We don't want surprises and neither do our customers, McAfee added. That's why we eliminate risk by analyzing every aspect of the project, making sure tasks and timelines are communicated properly, and accounting for any potential issues along the way. Dermac begins the process with detailed site surveys and engineering review, complete with drawing packages. McAfee said the high level of detail saves money, time, and a lot of aggravation. For example, one station installing a liquid-cooled Rohde & Schwarz transmitter saved more than $150,000, because the engineering review showed the facility would no longer require a specialized cooling system. Our drawing packages are the best in the industry right now, because they provide the level of detail everyone really needs to make sure everything works, McAfee said. Broadcasters like what we've created, and they see the value in how much easier it makes the job. Our drawings help us eliminate as many of the potential issues as possible, and improve the efficiencies of other vendors and contractors, too. Rohde & Schwarz Built on an 80 year heritage, Rohde & Schwarz is a recognized leader in the field of Test & Measurement, Secure Communications, Radio Monitoring & Radio Location, and Wireless Communication with an unparalleled expertise in broadcasting. The Rohde & Schwarz Broadcast and Media Division provides top-notch solutions to premier broadcasters, studios, post-production facilities, cable TV and satellite providers, and consumer electronics designers. Headquartered in Munich, Germany, Rohde & Schwarz is an independent company with a sales & service network that ranges across more than 70 countries. Rohde & Schwarz has over 10,500 employees worldwide and achieved a net revenue of Euro 1.92 billion in FY 2016/2017. R&S is a registered trademark of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG.

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