ISED Radio Spectrum Management Update British Columbia Broadband Conference Richmond, BC May 3 rd, 2016 Doug Shorter Manager, Lower Mainland Office, Coastal BC District Spectrum Management Western Region Building a prosperous and innovative Canada
Agenda Mandate and Spectrum Policy Framework Spectrum Applications Modernization Initiative Licence-Exempt Spectrum Bands Licensed Spectrum Options Spectrum Auctions White Space Spectrum Support for Rural Broadband 2
Department s Framework Mandate: Help make Canadian industry more productive and competitive in the global economy, thus improving the economic and social well-being of Canadians Radio Spectrum Management is a key contributor 3
Spectrum Policy Framework Open and competitive market Consultation Fair and transparent licensing Support the efficient functioning of markets by: o Permitting flexible use of spectrum to the extent possible o Harmonizing spectrum use internationally* o Making spectrum available for use in a timely fashion o Facilitating secondary markets for spectrum authorizations o Ensuring appropriate interference protection measures are in place * Except where Canadian interests warrant a different decision 4
Spectrum Applications Modernization Initiative Objective: Integrated, modernized platform using a commercial off-the-shelf product Increasing Government efficiency and effectiveness. 5
SAM Project Implementation Staged three phase implementation starting in May 2014 Should have minimal impacts on spectrum clients SpectrumDirect.ic.gc.ca sms-sgs.ic.gc.ca 6
Licence-Exempt Spectrum Bands available for Wireless Broadband o 902 928 MHz o 2400 2483.5 MHz o 5250 5350 MHz, 5470 5600 MHz, 5650 5850 MHz o 24.05 24.25 GHz Provisos for use: o No protection, no interference basis o Must adhere to specifications for licence exemption Radio Standard Specification 210: Category 1 Devices require a Technical Acceptance Certificate or certificate from recognized certification body Radio Standard Specification 247: Digital Transmission Systems (DTSs), Frequency Hopping Systems (FHSs) and Licence-Exempt Local Area Network (LE-LAN) Devices Separated out from former Annexes 8 & 9 of RSS-210 Equipment covered also classified as Category 1 7
Spectrum Licences Submission of Technical Information No site-specific licences are issued, but licensees are required to submit technical information to a publically accessible database E.g. Wireless Broadband Services, Fixed Wireless Access o Provides info for inter-user coordination and interference mitigation, plus required by ISED for spectrum management o Data must be updated regularly to reflect system changes, additions, or deletions Technical information submissions are a condition of licence References: CPC-2-1-23, CPC-2-0-17 8
Licensed Spectrum Options - WBS Wireless Broadband Services, 3650 3700 MHz Shared basis, all licensees have equal access to spectrum Band plan and technical specifications harmonized with the USA* Annual licence fees apply, and will be applied once defined Contention-based protocols to manage interference Reference: CPC 2-1-26 Highlights of Licence Conditions Site-specific data must be uploaded to ISED database o very important for coordinating among new and existing users Must comply with technical guidelines Mandatory antenna tower and site sharing *Still must comply with cross border coordination arrangement 9
Licensed Spectrum Options - FWA Fixed Wireless Access (3475 3650 MHz) Spectrum has been returned in some tier-4 areas & made available for FCFS licensing Currently not harmonized with the USA* Annual licence fees apply, and will be applied once defined Equipment must be certified (under RSS-192) References: DGSO-007-14, SRSP-303.4 Highlights of Licence Conditions Site-specific data must be uploaded to ISED database Must comply with technical guidelines Mandatory antenna tower and site sharing *Currently no cross border coordination arrangement 10
Licensed Spectrum Options - RRBS Remote Rural Broadband Systems (RRBS) Frequency range: 512 608 MHz and 614 698 MHz Application used to be considered for remote rural communities in unallotted and unassigned broadcast spectrum in television channels 21 51, excluding channel 37 Given the anticipated repurposing of 600-MHz band: o [SLPB-005-14] Moratorium has been imposed on: licensing of new stations, modification of an existing station s frequencies, or modification of an existing station that would increase its coverage in any direction [SLPB-004-15] Existing stations: can continue operating as currently assigned, but on a secondary basis (i.e. no-interference, no-protection) will be notified 2 years in advance if displacement is required may be given other options (e.g. move to another band) once determined 11
Spectrum Auctions Recent Auctions (not exhaustive) Mobile Broadband Services (MBS) Advanced Wireless Services (AWS-3) Broadband Radio Services (BRS) - Transferability, divisibility, and subordinate licensing provisions for secondary access 12
White Space Spectrum Uses White Space Device (WSD) is a radio apparatus that operates in the white space frequency bands using dynamic spectrum access technique A white space frequency band is unoccupied broadcast spectrum available for temporary use by radio systems, at a specific location and for a limited period of time WSDs are licence-exempt, low-power radio apparatus operating on frequencies within white space Operate on a no-protection, non-interference basis Does not apply to apparatus intended for general public broadcasting services 13
TV White Space Project Documents Documents published so far: RSS-222 White Space Devices (WSDs) DBS-01 White Space Database Specifications CPC-4-1-01 Application Procedures for White Space Database Administrators (WSDBAs) 14
TV White Space Update Current status: No database service provider designated at this time, so devices cannot be certified Tests could still be entertained but through developmental licensing 15
Developmental Licensing Radiocommunication Regulations authorize the Minister to issue developmental licences No pre-defined process for applying ISED has a great deal of flexibility, depending on what is requested Typically short term, limited in area / frequencies Technical compatibility / interference avoidance is a key consideration Applications should be directed to any ISED District Office May take form of a letter Include specific details of what is sought No implication of ongoing tenure 16
Working with ISED District City Contact Manitoba Winnipeg Allan.Pawluk@canada.ca (800) 665-3421 Central & Northern Alberta Edmonton Allidina.Badruddin@canada.ca (800) 461-2646 Steven.Seltenrich@canada.ca Southern Alberta Calgary Greg.Houston@canada.ca (800) 267-9401 Saskatchewan, NWT & Nunavut Saskatoon Regina Ron.Hamelin@canada.ca (877) 783-7757 Gerald.Fortier@canada.ca (877) 510-7875 Interior BC & Yukon Coastal BC Kelowna Pr. George Surrey Victoria Mike.Amyotte@canada.ca (250) 470-5026 Brad.Davis@canada.ca (250) 561-5291 Arthur.Lo@canada.ca (604) 586-2521 Doug.Shorter@canada.ca Jeff. Stanhope@canada.ca (250) 363-3800 Spectrum Management System Spectrum Direct ISED/Spectrum sms-sgs.ic.gc.ca SpectrumDirect.ic.gc.ca ic.gc.ca/spectrum 17