How to apply for a broadcasting certificate

Here you'll find all the necessary steps to apply for a broadcasting certificate.

Before getting started

Types of certificates

To learn more about the different types of available broadcasting certificates, see: Broadcasting certification

Eligibility

To hold a broadcasting certificate, you must be eligible to hold a broadcasting licence granted by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The eligibility criteria is therefore set by the CRTC.

Exemptions

In most situations, even if you are exempt from a CRTC broadcasting licence, you must still have a valid broadcasting certificate from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) to operate.

To find out more about broadcasting licences and their exemptions, visit the CRTC’s Licences page.

To learn more about broadcasting certificate exemptions, see: Exemptions

What you’ll need to apply

Retaining the services of an agent or a broadcast consultant

If you are retaining the services of an agent or broadcast consultant to apply for a broadcasting certificate on your behalf, be sure to complete the ISED-ISDE3052 — Retention of an Agent form. Your agent will submit the form on your behalf.

If you would like to retain the services of a broadcast consultant, you can contact the Canadian Association of Broadcast Consultants. Note that a broadcast consultant doesn’t need to be a member of this organization, but they are required to be a professional engineer.

The form is not required if you submit the application yourself, even if a consultant was retained.

Find out more at: Agents for radio authorizations

Prepare your documentation

When applying for a broadcasting certificate, you will need to prepare and include a series of documents in your submission.

For details, see: Documentation for broadcasting certificates

Conduct land-use authority and public consultation

Applicants proposing to erect a new antenna structure or to modify an existing structure must comply with the requirements set out in CPC-2-0-03 — Radiocommunication and Broadcasting Antenna Systems.

Unless your broadcasting proposal is excluded from land-use authority and public consultations, you must conduct a public consultation process. This must be done either:

in parallel with your application to ISED for a broadcasting certificate or
you may opt to provide a letter of intent to wait until after a favourable CRTC decision to begin the process

The technical acceptability is contingent on the successful completion of the consultation process. ISED will send a letter of approval only once we have been informed that the consultation process as per CPC-2-0-03 has been completed successfully.

For details, see: Section 2.1 of BPR-1 — General Rules

Overview of the application process

Overview of ISED's Broadcasting Application Process

How to submit your application

Option 1: Apply online

In order to submit your application online, you must first register to use our Spectrum Management System (SMS). Create your SMS Web Profile here.
Note: Approval may take up to 5 business days.
Once your access to SMS is granted, you will be able to apply for, copy and manage your certificates on the SMS Broadcasting Services page.
Note: Only use the Copy option if a new application number is required by copying information from another station for situations like temporary operation if instructed by ISED.
Enter the required information guided by the Broadcasting Certificates – Data Entry Guide. You can Save progress as needed.
Select Validate to verify your information. Incomplete information will result in the application being Returned to you and its assessment stopped until the missing information is provided.
Submit the application.

Once you submit your application to ISED, you will receive an acknowledgement email. You will also be required to submit a CRTC broadcasting licence application as explained below (unless exempted).

Option 2: Apply by email

If a situation prevents you from submitting an application online, you may submit your application by email to broadcasting-radiodiffusion@ised-isde.gc.ca.

Your submission should include the following information:

The required documentation noted in the Documentation for broadcasting certificates
The completed application relevant to your proposed broadcasting station:

Once you submit your application to ISED, you will receive an acknowledgement email. You will also be required to submit a CRTC broadcasting licence application as explained below (unless exempted).

Application for a broadcasting licence with the CRTC

Within 30 days of submitting your broadcasting certificate application to ISED, you must file an application for a broadcasting licence with the CRTC (unless exempted or not applicable; for example, if you are only making changes to an auxiliary transmitter system). The CRTC requires proof that you have successfully submitted your application for a broadcasting certificate with ISED.

Note: The CRTC application process includes consultations. For more information, see CRTC consultation process.

You can also consult the CRTC’s Licences webpage.

After you apply

ISED’s internal review

Once we receive your broadcasting application, we will:

review the information provided in the technical submission
conduct a frequency analysis
conduct a regional analysis
verify copies of notifications to potentially affected broadcasters and their responses, when applicable
coordinate with Nav Canada (for FM and sometimes AM)
conduct international coordination when applicable
provide technical comments to the CRTC

Once the technical analysis is successfully completed, you will receive a letter of technical acceptability by email. In some situations, ISED may skip sending you this letter if the letter of approval (LOA) to construct or modify is ready to be issued.

Receiving the letter of approval to construct from ISED

The letter of approval to construct gives you the authority to construct or modify your station.

This authorization is issued once:

the CRTC has issued a favourable decision, or you have indicated that you meet an exemption order
ISED has determined that your application is technically acceptable
public consultation as per CPC-2-0-03 has been completed or exclusion criteria has been met
any other condition in an ISED technical acceptability has been met

The letter of approval does not authorize any over-the-air transmission or testing. Once the installation is complete, you can request permission to start on-air-testing.

For details on how to request approval to construct, see: Obtain a letter of approval (LOA) for the construction or modification of a broadcasting undertaking

Requesting on-air testing authority

On-air testing is a general term used to describe the period during which a broadcasting station is undergoing tests before commencing regular programming. On-air testing ensures:

that the broadcasting undertaking will operate in accordance with its approved technical parameters
that the required protection from interference is being given to existing radio systems

You must request to start on-air testing at least three weeks prior to the scheduled first day of testing.

For details on how to request on-air testing authority, see: Request on-air testing authority for a broadcasting undertaking

Submitting the engineering certification

The engineering certification is a document that certifies the technical parameters of the station once the on-air testing period is completed.

For regular power stations, a qualified licensed professional engineer must approve the certification.
For low-power stations, a qualified technician can complete the certification.

We recognize that in many cases, the final installation may not be exactly as described in the original technical submission. In such cases, the engineering certification shall clearly describe all changes from the original submission and shall include, if applicable, revised pages for the technical brief (for example, a revised coverage map, a comparative contour map, etc.)

Depending on the modifications from the approved parameters, we may require an application for a change of facilities. In some cases, the CRTC may also require the submission of an application for the change; contact the CRTC for advice.

Receiving your broadcasting certificate

ISED will issue you a broadcasting certificate once we are satisfied that you have successfully completed each step of the process.

You will receive a copy of your certificate by email. You can also view or print your certificate using the “View or Print your Certificate” option in the Spectrum Management System.

A broadcasting certificate is typically valid for a 7-year term. All broadcasting certificates expire on August 31 of a given year, except for short-duration and temporary operations.

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