Arrangement Q

Sharing arrangement between the Department of Industry of Canada and the Federal Communications Commission of the United States of America concerning the use of the frequency bands 768-776 MHz and 798-806 MHz by the Land Mobile Service along the Canada-United States border

Contents

1. Scope
2. Sharing and Protection Zones
3. General Sharing Arrangement
4. Special Sharing Arrangements
5. Technical Limits
6. Coordination Necessitated by the Special Sharing Arrangements
7. Use of Frequencies Allotted to One Administration by the Other Administration
8. Information Exchange

• Annex A
• Annex B
• Annex C
• Annex D

The Department of Industry of Canada (Industry Canada) and the Federal Communications Commission of the United States of America (FCC), hereinafter referred to as the “Agencies”,

Have agreed to the following:

1. Scope

1.1. This Arrangement is made pursuant to the Exchange of Notes (October 24, 1962) between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America concerning the coordination and use of radio frequencies above thirty megacycles per second, with annex, completed at Ottawa October 24, 1962, as amended, and covers the sharing and coordination of frequency spectrum for the establishment and operation of land mobile radio services operating in the bands 768-776 MHz and 798-806 MHz along the Canada-United States border.

1.2. Aeronautical and maritime mobile services in this band are not covered by this Arrangement but may be subject to special coordination procedures on a case-by-case basis at the request of either agency prior to their introduction.

1.3. The Agencies may initiate and implement special coordination procedures allowing proposed stations to operate in a manner exceeding the technical conditions stated in this Arrangement within the sharing zones where the affected licensees agree to such conditions. Such special coordination may be initiated by either Agency through an exchange of correspondence and the results shall be approved by both Agencies.

1.4. This Arrangement is subject to review at any time at the request of either Agency, the U.S. Department of State or the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada.

2. Sharing and Protection Zones

The Agencies shall use the following definitions of Sharing Zones, Protection Zones and Sectors when interpreting this Arrangement:

2.1. Sharing Zone I

This Sharing Zone is the area adjacent to the United States-Canada border East of longitude 121° 30' W. and extending a distance of 100 km within either country. However, within Sharing Zone I the following special geographic areas are recognized:

1. In the Great Lakes area there are significant land areas that are within 100 km of the international border between the United States and Canada, but further than 100 km from any land mass of the other country. These areas contain several significant population centers that would benefit from additional spectrum if the lake shores were considered for purposes of sharing. With this in mind, the following cities shall be considered as falling outside of Sharing Zone I but inside the Protection Zone as defined in section 2.4 below: in the United States, the cities of Akron, Ohio; Youngstown, Ohio; and Syracuse, New York; and in Canada, the cities of Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario; Peterborough, Ontario, and London, Ontario. These cities are defined in Annex B, Table B4 as an area with the given center coordinates and encompassing a circle of 30 km radius.
2. Sector 1 and Sector 2, as defined in Section 4 below, are recognized as special geographic areas within Sharing Zone I.

2.2. Sharing Zone II

This Sharing Zone is the area adjacent to the United States-Canada border between 121° 30' and 127° W. longitude and extending a distance of 140 km within either country.

2.3. Sharing Zone III

This Sharing Zone is the area adjacent to the Alaska-British Columbia/Yukon Territory border and extending a distance of 100 km within either country.

2.4. Protection Zones

The Protection Zones are the areas adjacent to Sharing Zones I and III and extending from 100 km to 140 km away from the United States-Canada border within both countries as well as the areas defined in Annex B, Table B4.

3. General Sharing Arrangement

3.1. Channeling Arrangements

Within the Sharing Zones and Protection Zones, the Agencies shall use the spectrum on the basis of a paired frequency channeling plan with base station transmitters in the frequency band 768-775 MHz and mobile station transmitters in the frequency band 798-805 MHz. In the bands 775-776 MHz and 805-806 MHz, the Agencies may use unpaired or paired frequencies. A mobile station may also transmit on any frequency assigned to its associated base station. Base station to base station transmissions may occur in either frequency band 768-776 MHz or frequency band 798-806 MHz.^{Footnote 1}

The channels and blocks referred to in this Arrangement are defined in Annex A.

3.2. Distribution/Allotment of Frequencies

The frequency bands covered by this Arrangement shall be shared along the border, as indicated below. Each Agency may use its allotted portions of spectrum, subject to not causing harmful interference to assignments beyond the allotted frequency band edges and subject to the technical limits described in section 5.

3.2.1. Canada

In the Sharing Zones, except as specified in section 4, Canada has primary use of the channels and blocks listed in Annex A, Tables 1a and 1b in the frequency bands 768 to 776 MHz and 798 to 806 MHz.

3.2.2. United States

In the Sharing Zones, except as specified in section 4, the United States has primary use of the channels and blocks listed in Annex A, Tables 2a and 2b in the frequency bands 768 to 776 MHz and 798 to 806 MHz.

3.2.3. Shared Channels

(a) Interoperability Channels

The following paired channels shall be available as public safety interoperability channels.^{Footnote 2} These channels shall be available for each Agency’s use in all areas. Usage of these channels in the sharing zones may be locally coordinated in accordance with the interoperability requirements of the Canadian and U.S. licensees.

(b) Low Power Channels

The following channels shall be available as narrowband low power channels: 1 to 12, 949 to 960, 961 to 972, and 1909 to 1920. These channels shall be available for mobile operations only. No fixed station shall be allowed on these channels. These channels shall be available for each Agency’s use on an unprotected basis. Operation on these low power channels shall be limited to a maximum ERP of 2 watts.

3.2.4. Protection Zones

In the Protection Zones, each Agency has primary use of all the channels and blocks in the frequency bands 768 to 776 MHz and 798 to 806 MHz.

3.3. Use of the 768 to 776 MHz and 798 to 806 MHz bands Outside the Sharing and Protection Zones

Beyond 140 km from the border, the Agencies shall have primary use of these bands.

3.4 In the event that a station in one country causes harmful interference to a station in the other country, both Agencies shall take appropriate action to eliminate such interference.

4. Special Sharing Arrangements

In recognition of particular demographic circumstances, the Agencies agree on the unequal division of spectrum between Canada and the United States in the following two sectors of Sharing Zone I:

4.1. Sector 1

Sector 1 is defined to be the portion of Sharing Zone I in the United States and Canada bounded on the West by 85° W. longitude and on the East in Canada by 81° W. longitude and in the United States by 80° 30' W. longitude.

In this Sector, Canada shall have primary use of the frequencies listed in Annex A, Tables 3a and 3b. In this Sector, the United States shall have primary use of the frequencies listed in Annex A, Tables 4a and 4b. In this Sector, Canada and the United States shall have shared use of the channels listed in section 3.2.3.

4.2. Sector 2

Sector 2 is defined to be the portion of Sharing Zone I in the United States and Canada bounded on the East by 71° W. longitude and on the West in Canada by 81° W longitude and in the United States by 80° 30' W. longitude.

In this Sector, Canada shall have primary use of the frequencies listed in Annex A, Tables 5a and 5b. In this Sector, the United States shall have primary use of the frequencies listed in Annex A, Tables 6a and 6b. Within an area of 30 km radius from the centre city coordinates of London, Ontario, 42° 59' N. 81° 14' W., Canada shall have primary use the frequencies as defined in section 2.1 (protection zone). In this Sector, Canada and the United States shall have shared use of the channels listed in section 3.2.4.

5. Technical Limits

5.1. Within Sharing Zones I (including Sectors 1 and 2) and III, the Agencies may use their allotted portions of spectrum, subject to the Effective Radiated Power (ERP) and Effective Antenna Height (EAH) limits of Annex B, Table B1.

5.2. Within Sharing Zones II, the Agencies may use their allotted portions of spectrum, subject to the Effective Radiated Power (ERP) and Antenna Height Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL) limits of Annex B, Table B2.

5.3. Each Agency shall have primary use of the 768-776 MHz and 798-806 MHz bands within the Protection Zone in its respective country, subject to the condition that base stations not exceed the maximum Effective Radiated Power (ERP) and effective Antenna Height (EAH) limits of Annex B, Table B1.

5.4. Within the Sharing and Protection Zones, calculation of the limits on Effective Radiated Power (ERP) shall be based on the power radiated toward the horizon in the direction of the common border.

5.5. Each Agency may authorize stations which exceed the ERP limits specified in sections 5.1 through 5.4, provided the signal from such a station does not exceed a maximum power flux density (pfd) limit of -107dB(W/m2)/25 kHz at and beyond the border and a maximum ERP of 500 watts in the direction of the common border. If the border falls over water, the pfd limit shall apply at the shore beyond the border.

1. The Agencies shall require applicants or licensees under this provision to calculate the pfd described in section 5.5 using good engineering practice and generally accepted terrain-sensitive propagation models (with location and time variables of 10% and standard 3 arc-second digitized terrain data). Upon request by either Agency, the other Agency shall provide all data and calculations for determining compliance with this Arrangement.
2. In the event that the actual pfd at or beyond the border exceeds the value described in section 5.5, it is the responsibility of the licensee to bring the station’s actual pfd into compliance with section 5.5 or bring the station into compliance with the power limits described in sections 5.1 through 5.4.

6. Coordination Necessitated by the Special Sharing Arrangements

6.1. As a result of the division of spectrum described in sections 4.1 and 4.2, portions of the bands allotted to both countries under this Arrangement overlap. Therefore, the Agencies shall coordinate the proposed frequency assignments in the overlapping portions in those bands, as described in sections 6.2 and 6.3 below, in accordance with the procedures specified in Arrangement A annexed to the Above 30 Agreement.

6.2. Coordination shall be required for assignments on the frequencies listed Annex A, Tables 7a and 7b in the following areas (see Annex C, Figure 1):

1. The geographical area in Canada enclosed by the United States-Canada border, the meridian 71° W.; and the line beginning at the intersection of 72° W. and the United States-Canada border, thence running North along meridian 72° W. to the intersection of 45° 45' N., thence running East along 45° 45' N. to the meridian 71° W., and
2. The geographical area in the United States enclosed by the United States-Canada border, the meridian 71° W.; and the line beginning at the intersection of 44° 25' N., 71° W., thence running by great circle arc to the intersection of 45° N., 70° W., thence North along meridian 70° W. to the intersection of 45° 45' N., thence running West along 45° 45' N. to the intersection of the United States-Canada border.

6.3. Coordination shall be required for assignments on the frequencies listed Annex A, Tables 8a and 8b in the following areas (see Annex C, Figure 2):

1. The geographical area in Canada enclosed by the meridian of 81° W. longitude, the arc of a circle of 100 km radius centered at 41° 58'N. latitude and 80° 30' W. longitude at the southern shore of Lake Erie and drawn clockwise from the northerly intersection with 81° W. longitude to intersect the United States-Canada border East of 80° 30' W., and the United States-Canada border; and
2. The geographical area in the United States enclosed by the meridian of 81° W. longitude, the arc of a circle of 100 km radius centered at 42° 39' 30" N. latitude and 81° W. longitude at the northern shore of Lake Erie and drawn clockwise from the southerly intersection with 80° 30' W. longitude to intersect the United States-Canada border West of 81° W., and the United States-Canada border.

Within an area of 30 km radius from the centre city coordinates of London, Ontario, 42o 59' N. 81o 14' W., Canada has primary access as defined in section 2.1 (protection zone).

7. Use of Frequencies Allotted to One Administration by the Other Administration

7.1 Frequencies allotted for primary use of one Agency may be assigned by the other Agency for use within the sharing zones in its country under the following conditions:

1. The maximum power flux density (pfd) of the signal at and beyond the border of the primary user’s country does not exceed -124 dB(W/m²)/25 kHz.
   1. The Agencies shall require applicants or licensees under this provision to calculate the pfd described in section 7.1(a) using good engineering practice and generally accepted terrain-sensitive propagation models (with location and time variables of 10% and standard 3 arc-second digitized terrain data). Upon request by either Agency, the other Agency shall provide all data and calculations for determining compliance with this Arrangement.
   2. In the event that the measured pfd at or beyond the border exceeds the value described in section 7.1(a), it is the responsibility of the licensee to bring the station’s pfd into compliance with section 7.1(a).
2. Stations authorized under this provision shall be considered as secondary and shall neither be granted protection against harmful interference from stations that have primary use of their authorized frequency, nor shall they cause harmful interference to stations having primary use of their authorized frequency, regardless of whether they meet the pfd values specified in 7.1 (a) above.
3. Mobile stations exceeding 5 watts transmitter power output (TPO) shall not be operated in frequencies allotted for primary use of the other Agency within 30 km of the common border.
4. Beyond 30 km of the common border, mobile stations operating in frequencies allotted for primary use of the other Agency must not exceed the pfd value specified in 7.1 (a).
5. The documentation issued by each Agency authorizing such stations to use these frequencies shall include a clause stating that such authorization is subject to the following conditions:
   1. In the event that the measured signal at or beyond the border is found to exceed -124 dB(W/m²)/25 kHz, the signal level shall be reduced accordingly;
   2. In the event that harmful interference occurs to any station that has primary use of the authorized frequency, regardless of signal strength, the licensee shall take immediate action to eliminate such interference. The Agency granting the authorization for secondary use shall ensure that remedial action is taken to resolve the harmful interference, up to and including revocation of the authorization.

8. Information Exchange

8.1 To facilitate the coordination requirements of this Arrangement, the Agencies shall either exchange information including, but not limited to: (1) licensee name(s); (2) licensed service areas; and (3) licensee point(s) of contact; or means to obtain the above information.

8.2 When necessary, the Agencies shall provide information to their respective licensees to facilitate the coordination requirements of this Arrangement.

8.3 To facilitate cross-border coordination between licensees, the Agencies shall encourage licensees to exchange data as listed in Annex D to this Arrangement.

Annex A — Distribution/Allotment of Frequencies for General and Special Sharing Arrangements

Channels shall be 6.25 kHz wide for a total of 1920 channels. The channels can be combined. The frequencies corresponding to the lower and upper band edge of the channel number are defined by the following formulas, where n is the channel number:

A1. In the Sharing Zones, except Sectors 1 and 2, Canada shall have primary use of the following channels and blocks:

A2. In the Sharing Zones, except Sectors 1 and 2, the United States shall have primary use of the following channels and blocks:

A3. In Sector 1, Canada shall have primary use of the following channels and blocks:

A4. In Sector 1, the United States shall have primary use of the following channels and blocks:

A5a. In Sector 2, Canada shall have primary use of the following channels and blocks:

A6a. In Sector 2, the United States shall have primary use of the following channels and blocks:

A7. In the areas listed in section 6.2, the following channels shall be coordinated in accordance with the procedures specified in Arrangement A annexed to the Above 30 Agreement:

A8. In the areas listed in section 6.3, the following channels shall be coordinated in accordance with the procedures specified in Arrangement A annexed to the Above 30 Agreement:

Annex B — Limits of Effective Radiated Power and Antenna Height for General Sharing Arrangements

Effective Radiated Power (ERP) is defined as the product of the power supplied to the antenna and its gain relative to a half-wave dipole in a given direction.

B1. For base stations in Sharing Zones I (including Sectors 1 and 2) and III, and the Protection Zones, Table B1 lists the limits of Effective Radiated Power (ERP) corresponding to the Effective Antenna Height (EAH) ranges shown. In this case, Effective Antenna Height is calculated by subtracting the Assumed Average Terrain Elevation given in Table B3 from the antenna height above mean sea level.

B2. For base stations in Sharing Zone II, Table B2 lists the limits of Effective Radiated Power (ERP) corresponding to the antenna height above mean sea level (AMSL) ranges shown.

B3. Table B3 lists the values of Assumed Average Terrain Elevations (AATE) within the Sharing and Protection Zones on both sides of the United States-Canada border.

EAH = Antenna Height Above Mean Sea Level - AATE

B4. Table B4 lists cities in the United States and Canada that, for the purposes of this agreement, shall be considered as falling outside of Sharing Zone I but within the Protection Zone. These cities are defined as circles with a 30 km radius around the center coordinates listed.

Annex C — Band overlap coordination areas

Figure 1 — Band overlap coordination areas

Figure 2 — Band overlap coordination areas

Annex D — Parameters for coordination

• Licensee information (Corporate name/Mailing address/Phone/Fax/Email address)
• Location of transmitter (Community/State/Province)
• Geographical coordinates of transmitting antenna (NAD83)
• Equivalent Radiated Power (ERP) (dBW)
• Ground elevation and antenna height above ground (m)
• Center frequency (MHz)
• Polarization
• Antenna pattern/tabulation of the pattern
• Azimuth of the maximum antenna gain
• Bandwidth and emission designation