Issue 2 October 2008 Spectrum Management and Telecommunications Client Procedures Circular Licensing Radiocommunication Systems Using FM Subsidiary Communication Multiplex Operation (FM/SCMO) or Digital Radio Broadcasting (DRB) Installations Aussi disponible en français
Preface Client Procedures Circulars describe the various procedures or processes to be followed by the public when dealing with Industry Canada. The information contained in these circulars is subject to change without notice. It is therefore suggested that interested persons consult the nearest district office of Industry Canada for additional details. While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure accuracy, no warranty is expressed or implied. As well, these circulars have no status in law. Comments and suggestions may be directed to the following address: Industry Canada Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulatory Branch 300 Slater Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C8 Attention: DOS E-mail: spectrum_pubs@ic.gc.ca All Spectrum Management and Telecommunications publications are available on the following website: http://ic.gc.ca/spectrum. i
Contents Principle...1 Mandate...1 Policy...1 Procedure...1 Environmental Process, Radio Frequency Fields, Land-Use Consultation and Air Navigation Obstruction Marking... 2 Electromagnetic Compatibility... 2 Ownership... 2 Fixed Service... 2 Fees for Land Mobile Service, Electronic News Gathering, Dispatch and Paging... 2 FM Rebroadcasting Stations and DRB Gap Fillers/Coverage Extenders/Single Frequency Network Transmitters... 3 Radio Standards Procedure 113 (RSP-113)... 3 International Coordination... 3 Licence Conditions... 3 Implementation of the Policy for Existing Systems...4 Appendix 1: Examples of Fee Calculations...5 ii
Principle The radio frequency spectrum is a natural resource to which all Canadians are entitled access for the purpose of carrying out their business affairs. Mandate Section 5 of the Radiocommunication Act states that the Minister may issue radio licences in respect of radio apparatus. Policy In Canada Gazette Notice DGTP-007-97 dated September 27, 1997, Industry Canada announced the release of a Spectrum Utilization Policy entitled Spectrum Policy Provisions to Permit the Use of Digital Radio Broadcasting Installations to Provide Non-Broadcasting Services (SP 1452). As stated in this policy, the following persons are eligible for radio licensing under the Radiocommunication Act: (1) Radiocommunication users or radiocommunication service providers operating Digital Radio Broadcasting (DRB) transmission capacity to provide non-broadcasting services which are not related to the broadcasting programming, such as radio paging and alphanumeric data transmission. (2) Radiocommunication users or radiocommunication service providers operating FM Subsidiary Communication Multiplex Operation (FM/SCMO) transmission capacity to provide non-broadcasting services which are not related to the broadcasting programming, such as radio paging and alphanumeric data transmission. Procedure In accordance with the Radiocommunication Regulations, radio licences may be issued to eligible operators in respect of radio apparatus. Pursuant to the Radiocommunication Act, the radio licence will be issued to the entity that is deemed to be operating the broadcasting transmitter. Before a radio licence can be issued, the broadcasting operator will need to attest that implementation of non-broadcasting SCMO or DRB applications will not degrade the broadcast signal. A radio licence will not be issued to a system operator until the broadcasting certificate has been amended to allow changes to the installation(s). Licence applications for non-broadcasting services using DRB and FM/SCMO installations will be processed in the same manner as other radio licence applications, with the following particularities: 1
Environmental Process, Radio Frequency Fields, Land-Use Consultation and Air Navigation Obstruction Marking If these procedures have already been completed as part of the application process for a broadcasting certificate, no further action is required. Electromagnetic Compatibility Electromagnetic Compatibility Studies (EMC analysis) are not required for non-broadcasting services using DRB or FM/SCMO installations. Ownership The applicant must comply with the Radiocommunication Regulations and the Telecommunications Act eligibility requirements with respect to Canadian ownership and control. Fixed Service For the purposes of radio licensing, point-to-multipoint applications will be licensed as mobile services. Fees for Land Mobile Service, Electronic News Gathering, Dispatch and Paging The fees applicable are those prescribed in sections 63, 64, 66, 67 and 68 of the Radiocommunication Regulations. These fees are prescribed for each transmit or receive frequency: - for analog applications, a radio frequency will be deemed to correspond to an assigned bandwidth of 25 khz employed for non-broadcasting purposes; - for digitally modulated applications, a radio frequency will be deemed to correspond to a bit rate of 37.5 kilobits per second employed for non-broadcasting purposes. 1 Appendix 1 provides a few examples of fee calculations for different radiocommunication services. It should be noted that the Department will periodically review the radio licence fees and that the fees indicated may be subject to change. 1 As per Broadcasting Procedures and Rules, Part 5 (BPR, Part 5): a 1.536 MHz DRB channel has a 2304 kbit/s capacity. To convert the applicable bit rate to an equivalent 25 khz channel, the following calculation was used: 2304 kbit/s ) 1.536 MHz (1 DRB channel) = 1.5 kbit/s per khz or 37.5 kbit/s for each 25 khz channel. 2
FM Rebroadcasting Stations and DRB Gap Fillers/Coverage Extenders/Single Frequency Network Transmitters With regard to the non-broadcasting service only, when such a transmitter works as a Zone Enhancer, as described in CPC-2-1-05, in a way that it does not extend the main service area of the non-broadcasting service, the fee for non-cellular/non-pcs Zone Enhancers will be applied to one frequency only, as defined in CPC-2-1-05. In all other cases, licence fees will be applied to each frequency, based on service category, using the above calculation. Radio Standards Procedure 113 (RSP-113) The Application Procedures for Planned Radio Stations Above 960 MHz in the Fixed Service described in Radio Standards Procedure 113 (RSP-113) do not apply to systems using DRB installations. International Coordination No international coordination is required for licensing radiocommunication systems if the coordination was previously carried out during the broadcasting certificate issuance process using FM/SCMO or DRB installations. Licence Conditions The following licence condition shall appear on the radio licence for FM/SCMO radiocommunication installations: The FM/SCMO radiocommunication installation must meet the requirements of the Broadcasting Procedures and Rules, Part 3 (BPR, Part 3), Application Procedures and Rules for FM Broadcasting Undertakings, and must be maintained in proper adjustment. All conditions or restrictions specified on the Broadcasting Certificate must be complied with. The Department must be notified of any changes to the equipment affecting the FM/SCMO signal. The following licence condition shall appear on the radio licence for DRB radiocommunication installations: The DRB installation must meet the requirements of the Broadcasting Procedures and Rules, Part 5 (BPR, Part 5), Application Procedures and Rules for Digital Radio Broadcasting (DRB) Undertakings and Spectrum Utilization Policies SP-1452 (SP-1452), Spectrum Policy Provisions to Permit the Use of Digital Radio Broadcasting Installations to Provide Non-Broadcasting Services, and must be maintained in proper adjustment. All conditions or restrictions specified on the Broadcasting Certificate must be complied with. The Department must be notified of any changes to the DRB facilities. 3
Implementation of the Policy for Existing Systems Broadcasting certificate holders who are currently endorsed to allow the use of their installations to provide non-broadcasting services which are not related to the broadcasting programming will be informed that, upon expiration of their broadcasting certificate, the radiocommunication facility will require a radio licence as prescribed in the Radiocommunication Regulations. 4
Appendix 1: Examples of Fee Calculations Example 1: A DRB broadcaster allows a 64 kbit/s bit rate to be used by a radiocommunication service provider (paging company) in a high congestion zone. The licence renewal* fee would be: - (64 kbit/s )/(37.5 kbit/s ) = 1.70 equivalent 25 khz channel (rounded off to the highest number of channels) = 2 frequencies; - using RR Schedule III Part V of the Radiocommunication Regulations: 2 frequencies at $368 per frequency (renewal fee) = $736.00 Example 2: An FM broadcaster allows a radiocommunication user to use its full SCMO bandwidth (46 khz as per Broadcasting Procedures and Rules, Part 3 (BPR, Part 3), section 3.13) for paging purposes in a non-metropolitan area. The licence renewal* fee would be: - 46 khz requires the equivalent of 2 x 25 khz channels; - using RR Schedule III Part IV of the Radiocommunication Regulations: 2 frequencies at $53 per frequency (renewal fee) = $106.00 * It should be noted that, upon issuance of a radio licence, an issuance fee is applied. 5