Policy and Technical Framework Mobile Broadband Services (MBS) — 700 MHz Band Broadband Radio Service (BRS) — 2500 MHz Band

Annex 5 — List ofLow-Power Television (LPTV) Stations Operating in the 700 MHz Band, PostDTV-Transition

The following LPTV stations operating in the 700 MHzband are subject to a notification period as follows.

Stations potentially affecting mobile deployments inurban areas
A notification period of one year will apply to LPTV stations in proximity of urban areas, as detailed below:

Stations potentially affecting mobile deployments inurban areas
Call Sign City Province Banner code Station Class Latitude Longitude Channel Notification period
CH4698 Logan Lake BC OP LP 50°30'4"N 120°48'51"W 54 1 year
CH4699 Logan Lake BC OP LP 50°30'4"N 120°48'51"W 58 1 year
CH4700 Logan Lake BC OP LP 50°30'4"N 120°48'51"W 62 1 year
CH4701 Logan Lake BC OP LP 50°30'4"N 120°48'51"W 66 1 year
CJOL-TV-31 Kirby’s Corner ON OP LP 46°42'49"N 84°16'39"W 57 1 year

Stations in other Areas
A notification period of two years will apply to LPTV stations located outside of urban areas, as detailed below:

Stations in Other Areas
Call Sign City Province Banner code Station Class Latitude Longitude Channel Notification period
CBRT-10 Bellevue AB OP LP 49°33'55"N 114°20'57"W 57 2 years
CBUAT-6 Trail BC OP LP 49°5'27"N 117°47'59"W 52 2 years
CFTF-TV-9 Gaspé QC OP LP 48°50'15"N 64°29'32"W 58 2 years
CH2752 Cheticamp NS OP LP 46°36'24"N 61°3'12"W 53 2 years
CH2753 Cheticamp NS OP LP 46°36'24"N 61°3'12"W 57 2 years
CH2768 Tracadie NS OP LP 45°34'21"N 61°40'28"W 60 2 years
CH3063 Tracadie NS OP LP 45°34'21"N 61°40'28"W 52 2 years
CH3064 Tracadie NS OP LP 45°34'21"N 61°40'28"W 56 2 years
CH3065 Tracadie NS OP LP 45°34'21"N 61°40'28"W 58 2 years
CH3066 Tracadie NS OP LP 45°34'21"N 61°40'28"W 66 2 years
CH4148 Chetwynd BC OP LP 55°40'7"N 121°34'57"W 52 2 years
CH5529 Cheticamp NS OP LP 46°36'24"N 61°3'12"W 55 2 years

CH6457

Fort St. James BC OP LP 54°26'35"N 124°13'33"W 54 2 years
CH6458 Fort St. James BC OP LP 54°26'35"N 124°13'33"W 60 2 years
CH6459 Fort St. James BC OP LP 54°26'35"N 124°13'33"W 62 2 years
CH6460 Fort St. James BC OP LP 54°26'35"N 124°13'33"W 66 2 years
CH6461 Fort St. James BC OP LP 54°26'35"N 124°13'33"W 68 2 years
CH6496 Fort St. James BC OP

LP

54°26'35"N

124°13'33"W

52

2 years
CH6497 Fort St. James BC OP

LP

54°26'35"N

124°13'33"W

56

2 years
CH6498 Fort St. James BC OP

LP

54°26'35"N

124°13'33"W

58

2 years
CH6499 Fort St. James BC OP

LP

54°26'35"N

124°13'33"W

64

2 years
CHET-TV Chetwynd BC OP

LP

55°40'7"N

121°34'57"W

55

2 years
CICA-TV-4 Hilliardton ON OP

LP

47°43'28"N

79°41'43"W

55

2 years
CICA-TV-93 Harty ON

OP

LP

49°28'35"N

82°40'48"W

53

2 years
CICO-TV-63 Wikwemikong ON OP LP 45°47'53"N 81°43'36"W 53 2 years
CICO-TV-65 Dack Township ON OP LP 47°48'42"N 79°55'12"W 59 2 years
CICO-TV-67 Evanturel Township ON OP LP 47°47'55"N 79°49'18"W 57 2 years
CICO-TV-68 Hallam ON OP LP 46°14'49"N 81°50'8"W 55 2 years
CICO-TV-69 Kenabeek ON OP LP 47°38'23"N 79°58'24"W 56 2 years
CICO-TV-83 Chamberlain Township ON OP LP 47°53'58"N 79°56'43"W 61 2 years
CICO-TV-97 Birch Island ON OP LP 46°4'3"N 81°46'29"W 56 2 years
CIMT-TV-7 Les Escoumins QC OP LP 48°19'0"N 69°25'41"W 57 2 years
CISR-TV Santa Rosa BC OP LP 49°1'30"N 118°3'34"W 68 2 years
CITL-TV-10 Alcot Trail SK OP LP 53°53'8"N 108°24'35"W 58 2 years
WOLLASTON 54 Wollaston Lake SK RE VLP 58°6'27"N 103°10'15"W 54 2 years
WOLLASTON 55 Wollaston Lake SK RE VLP 58°6'27"N 103°10'15"W 60 2 years
WOLLASTON 57 Wollaston Lake SK RE VLP 58°6'27"N 103°10'15"W 57 2 years

LPTV Stations converted from full power, as a part of the DTV transition
The stations listed below will be allowed to operate untilthe date of the 700 MHz auction:

LPTV Stations Converted from Full Power as Part of the DTV Transition
Call Sign City Province Banner code Station Class Latitude Longitude Channel Notification period
CBHFT-6(1) Digby NS AU LP 44°40'35"N 65°44'1"W 58 n/a
CBHT-7(1) Digby NS AU LP 44°40'35"N 65°44'1"W 52 n/a
CBHT-8(1) Truro NS AU LP 45°27'10"N 63°17'17"W 55 n/a
CBJET Saguenay QC AU LP 48°25'29"N 71°6'30"W 58 n/a
CBLFT-8(1) Kitchener ON AU LP 43°27'0"N 80°36'7"W 61 n/a
CBLFT-9(1) London ON AU LP 42°57'20"N 81°21'19"W 53 n/a
CBLN-TV-3(1) Chatham ON AU LP 42°27'0"N 82°4'59"W 55 n/a
CBVT-4(1) Lac-Etchemin QC AU LP 46°24'42"N 70°35'35"W 55 n/a
CBXT-12(1) Forestburg AB AU LP 52°40'8"N 111°56'57"W 52 n/a

 


 

Annex 6 — Respondents to the 2500 MHz Consultation (SMSE-005-11)

Comments and/or reply comments were received from:

  • Barrett Xplore Inc. and Barrett Broadband Networks Inc. (Xplornet)
  • Bell Mobility Inc. (Bell)
  • Bragg Communications Inc. (EastLink)
  • Globalive Wireless Management Corp. (WIND)
  • Huawei Canada (Huawei)
  • MTS Allstream Inc. (MTS Allstream)
  • Niagara Networks
  • Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)
  • Public Mobile Inc.
  • Quebecor Media Inc. (QMI)
  • Radio Advisory Board of Canada (RABC)
  • Research In Motion Limited (RIM)
  • Rogers Communications Partnership (Rogers)
  • Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel)
  • Shaw Communications Inc. (Shaw)
  • SSi Micro Ltd. (SSi)
  • TELUS Communications Company (TELUS)

Annex 7 — Spectrum Availability in the 2500 MHz Band

(as of November 2011, subject to change prior to the 2500 MHz spectrum auction)

Spectrum Availability in the 2500 MHz Band
Tier # Region Name Frequency blocks available for auction (marked with an “X”)
Paired spectrum (10 + 10 MHz) Unpaired spectrum (25 MHz)
A1 to A2 / A1’ to A2’ A3 to A4 / A3’ to A4 A5 to A6 / A5’ to A6’ A7 to A8 / A7’ to A8’ A9 to A10 / A9’ to A10’ A11 to A12 / A11’ to A12 A13 to A14 / A13’ to A14’ B1 to B5 B6 to B10
3-01 A Newfoundland & Labrador     X X X X

X

 

X

3-02 A Prince Edward Island     X X X X

X

 

X

3-03

A

Mainland Nova Scotia

   

X

X

X

X

X

 

X

3-04

A

Cape Breton

   

X

X

X

X

X

 

X

3-05

A

Southern New Brunswick

   

X

X

X

X

X

 

X

3-06

A

Western New Brunswick

   

X

X

X

X

X

 

X

3-07

A

Eastern New Brunswick

   

X

X

X

X

X

 

X

3-08 B Bas du fleuve/Gaspésie         X X X    
3-09 B Québec         X X X    
3-10 A Chicoutimi-Jonquière     X

X

X

X

X

 

X

3-11 A Eastern Townships     X

X

X

X

X

 

X

3-12 B Trois-Rivières        

X

X

X

   
3-13 B Montréal         X X X    
3-14 A Upper Outaouais     X X X X X   X
3-15 B Ottawa/Outaouais         X X X    
3-16 A Pembroke     X X X X X   X
3-17 A Abitibi     X X X X X   X
3-18 A Cornwall     X X X X X   X
3-19 A Brockville     X X X X X   X
3-20 A Kingston     X X X X X   X
3-21 A Belleville     X X X X X   X
3-22 A Cobourg     X X X X X   X
3-23 A Peterborough     X X X X X  

X

3-24 A Huntsville     X X X X X  

X

3-25 B Toronto         X X X    
3-26 B Barrie         X X X    
3-27 B Guelph/Kitchener         X X X    
3-28 A Listowel/Goderich/Stratford     X X X X X  

X

3-29 B Niagara-St. Catharines         X X X    
3-30 B London/Woodstock/St. Thomas         X X X    
3-31 A Chatham     X X X X X   X
3-32 A Windsor/Leamington     X X X X X   X
3-33 A Strathroy     X X X X X   X
3-34 A North Bay     X X X X X   X
3-35 A Sault Ste. Marie     X X X X X   X
3-36 A Sudbury     X X X X X   X
3-37 A Kirkland Lake         X X X    
3-38 A Thunder Bay     X X X X X   X
3-39 C Winnipeg X X     X X X X  
3-40 C Brandon X X     X X X X  
3-41 B Regina         X X X    
3-42 B Moose Jaw         X X X    
3-43 B Saskatoon         X X X    
3-44 A Edmonton     X X X X X   X
3-45 A Medicine Hat/Brooks     X X X X X   X
3-46 A Lethbridge     X X X X X   X
3-47 A Calgary     X X X X X   X
3-48 A Red Deer     X X X X X   X
3-49 A Grande Prairie     X X X X X   X
3-50 A Kootenays     X X X X X   X
3-51 B Okanagan/Columbia         X X X    
3-52 B Vancouver         X X X    
3-53 B Victoria         X X X    
3-54 A Nanaimo     X X X X X   X
3-55 A Courtenay     X X X X X   X
3-56 A Thompson/Cariboo     X X X X X   X
3-57 A Prince George     X X X X X   X
3-58 A Dawson Creek     X X X X X   X
4-170 A Yukon     X X X X X   X
4-171 A Nunavut     X X X X X   X
4-172 A Northwest Territories     X X X X X   X

Annex 8 — Summary of Decisions

PART B — Decisions on a Policy and Technical Framework for Commercial Mobile Broadband Spectrum in the 700 MHz Band

Decisions related to the band plan and block sizes

B1-1: The band plan shown in Figure B2 below will be adopted for the 700 MHz auction, with the Upper C block subdivided into two separate blocks, namely C1 and C2. The following figure shows the band plan architecture for commercial mobile spectrum use.

Figure B2 — Canadian band plan for the bands 698-756 MHz and 777-787 MHz
Figure B2 — Canadian band plan for the bands 698-756 MHz and 777-787 MHz (the link to the long description is located below the image)

Description of Figure B2

*Decisions regarding D block (in the Upper 700 MHz band) and frequency ranges designated for public safety are discussed in Section B2.

The following frequency blocks will be available for the 700 MHz auction:

700 MHz Auction
Block Frequency Pairing MHz
A 698-704 MHz/728-734 MHz paired 6+6 MHz
B 704-710 MHz/734-740 MHz paired 6+6 MHz
C 710-716 MHz/740-746 MHz paired 6+6 MHz
D 716-722 MHz unpaired 6 MHz
E 722-728 MHz unpaired 6 MHz
C1 777-782 MHz/746-751 MHz paired 5+5 MHz
C2 782-787 MHz/751-756 MHz paired 5+5 MHz

A Standard Radio Systems Plan (SRSP) and a Radio Standards Specification (RSS) will be released before the auction to establish the technical rules for systems operating in the commercial mobile spectrum in the 700 MHz band.

B1-2: The two 1 MHz blocks (the frequency bands 756-757 MHz and 776-777 MHz resulting from subdividing the Upper C block into blocks C1 and C2) will be held in reserve, and will thus not be part of the upcoming auction.

B1-3: As per the letter addressed to the CRTC, no new applications for broadcasting certificates will be accepted for TV stations operating on channel 51 (692-698 MHz). Block A licensees, in areas where mobile deployments are affected by TV broadcasting on channel 51, are encouraged to enter into mutually acceptable arrangements with the relevant broadcasters.

Decision related to guardbands between adjacent services

B1-4: The two guardbands (i.e. the frequency bands 757-758 MHz and 787-788 MHz) between adjacent services in the Upper 700 MHz band will be held in reserve until further notice.

Decision related to Tier Sizes

B1-5: Tier 2 service areas will be used to license all frequency blocks for the auction of 700 MHz spectrum licences.

Decisions related to the public safety spectrum

B2-1: The bands 763-768 MHz and 793-798 MHz (PSBB block) are designated for public safety broadband use. Consequently, these bands will not be part of the 700 MHz auction.

B2-2: A decision on the use of the bands 758-763 MHz and 788-793 MHz (the D block in the Upper 700 MHz band) will be made following a separate consultation.

Decisions on mechanisms to promote competition in the 700 MHz auction

B3-1: A spectrum cap of two paired frequency blocks in the 700 MHz band (blocks A, B, C, C1 and C2) is applicable to all licensees.

B3-2: A spectrum cap of one paired spectrum block from within blocks B, C, C1 and C2 is applicable to all large wireless service providers. Large wireless service providers are defined as companies with 10% or more of national wireless subscriber market share, or 20% or more wireless subscriber market share in the province of the relevant licence area.56, 57

B3-3: Unpaired blocks D and E in the Lower 700 MHz band are not subject to a spectrum cap.

B3-4: Industry Canada will consult with a view to revising the rules on associated entities.

B3-5: A general rollout obligation will apply to all 700 MHz commercial licences. Industry Canada will consult on the details of the general deployment requirements (e.g. population coverage and time frame).

Decision regarding limitations on licence transfers in the 700 MHz band

B3-6: The spectrum caps put in place for the 700 MHz auction will continue to be in place for five years following licence issuance. Therefore, no transfer of licences or issuance of new licences will be authorized if it allows a licensee to exceed the spectrum cap during this period.

Decision related to general regulatory measures for rural deployments

B4-1: RP-019, Policy for the Provision of Cellular Services by New Parties, will be reviewed to assess possible changes to improve the process and determine whether the policy should be expanded to apply to other bands.

Decision related to specific measures to be adopted with the 700 MHz spectrum auction process

B4-2: A condition of licence will apply to 700 MHz licensees which requires the following:

  • (1) In each licence area where a licensee holds two or more paired blocks of spectrum in the 700 MHz band, or has access to two or more paired blocks of spectrum in the 700 MHz band through association, that licensee must deploy its 700 MHz spectrum:
    • (a) to cover 90% of the population of its existing HSPA network footprint within five years from the date of the issuance of the 700 MHz licence; and
    • (b) to cover 97% of the population of its existing HSPA network footprint within seven years from the date of the issuance of the 700 MHz licence.
  • (2) Coverage provided only through a roaming agreement is not considered to be part of the licensee’s HSPA network footprint.
  • (3) Existing HSPA network footprint coverage is the coverage in effect as of the release date of this paper.

Decision related to open access

B5-1: No measures to ensure open access provisions, for devices and/or applications, are to be implemented at this time.

Decisions related to existing users of the 700 MHz band

B6-1: LPTV stations are permitted to continue to operate, but are subject to displacement. Industry Canada may issue a displacement notice on the following basis:

  • (a) Where a licensee planning to deploy services in the bands 698-768 MHz and 776-798 MHz identifies a specific LPTV station that may prevent its deployment, the licensee can approach Industry Canada with an identification of the areas, the spectrum required and planned time frames for its deployment. Industry Canada will examine the submission and, if it is determined that the continued operation of the LPTV station will interfere with these new services, will issue a displacement notice providing for termination of the broadcast certificate and requiring the LPTV operator to cease or migrate its operations.
  • (b) The following minimum notification periods between the displacement notice and termination of the broadcast will apply: (i) LPTV stations located in the proximity of urban areas (as detailed in Annex 5) will be afforded a minimum of a one-year notification period; and (ii) LPTV stations located in all other areas (also listed in Annex 5) will be afforded a minimum of a two-year notification period.
  • (c) Voluntary agreements between the LPTV station operators and 700 MHz licensees may provide for earlier displacement or for the continued operation of the LPTV stations.

B6-2: The nine full power stations which converted to LPTV in order to remain in the 700 MHz band on a secondary basis after August 31, 2011, will only be permitted to operate up to the date of the 700 MHz auction. These stations are also listed in Annex 5.

B6-3: Low-power licensed devices, including wireless microphones, will only be allowed to operate in the bands 698-764 MHz and 776-794 MHz until March 31, 2013.

Decision related to the 700 MHz spectrum utilization policy

B7-1: Systems for MBS shall comply with the Radio Policy RP-014 definition for CMRS, and no restrictions will be placed on the types of services offered by licensees (other than technical compatibility considerations).

Decision on changes to the Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations

B8-1: The Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations will be updated to include the following:

MHz

470-608
BROADCASTING

5.293 5.297 C24
...
614-698
BROADCASTING

5.293 C24
698-806
BROADCASTING
FIXED
MOBILE 5.317A C7

5.293

C24 (CAN-11) In the bands 470-608 MHz and 614-806 MHz, international footnotes 5.293 and 5.297 have raised the fixed and mobile services to a co-primary status with the broadcasting service. In Canada the fixed and mobile services have primary allocations only in the 698-806 MHz range. Industry Canada will carry out public consultation in the future in order to consider adopting the other service allocation provisions of international footnotes 5.293 and 5.297 in the frequency bands 470-608 MHz and 614-698 MHz.

C7 (CAN-11) International Footnote 5.317A provides administrations with the flexibility to implement International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) in the parts of the band 698-960 MHz that are allocated to the mobile service on a primary basis. The application of 5.317A is limited to the bands designated for cellular mobile radio systems, cellular mobile telephony and trunked mobile systems. The bands 698-758 MHz and 776-788 MHz, 824-849 MHz and 869-894 MHz are designated for cellular mobile radio systems, cellular telephony services and the bands 806-821 MHz, 851-866 MHz, 896-902 MHz and 935-941 MHz are designated for trunked mobile services and, as such, can evolve to accommodate IMT service capabilities.

PART C — Decisions on Spectrum Packaging and the Licensing of Broadband Radio Service (BRS) in the 2500 MHz Band

Decisions related to block sizes in the 2500 MHz band

C1-1: In the bands 2500-2570 MHz and 2620-2690 MHz (“the paired spectrum”), the spectrum is to be licensed in blocks of 10+10 MHz in all licence areas.

C1-2: In the band 2570-2620 MHz (“the unpaired spectrum”), the spectrum is to be licensed in blocks of 25 MHz (which includes the respective 5 MHz restricted band58) in all licence areas.

Decisions related to Tier sizes

C1-3: In the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, the licensing of 2500 MHz spectrum shall be based on Tier 4 service areas.

C1-4: In all other areas, the licensing of 2500 MHz spectrum shall be based on Tier 3 service areas.

Decisions related to measures to promote competition for the 2500 MHz band

C2-1: With the exception of licensees in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, all licensees are subject to a spectrum aggregation limit (“spectrum cap”) of 40 MHz in the 2500 MHz band, excluding the restricted bands at 2570-2575 MHz and 2615-2620 MHz. This amount represents the total spectrum holdings, including both paired and unpaired spectrum, by each licensee in each licence area.

C2-2: The spectrum cap shall remain in effect in the 2500 MHz band for a period of five years after the issuance of licences. Therefore, no transfer of licences or issuance of new licences will be authorized if it allows a licensee to exceed the spectrum cap during this period.

C2-3: Industry Canada will consult with a view to revising the rules on associated entities.

C2-4: In areas where an existing licensee already has holdings in excess of the spectrum cap set out in Decision C2-1, the licensee will not be required to relinquish any such holdings in order to meet the limit of the spectrum cap. However, such licensees will not be eligible to bid for additional licences in the auction process or otherwise obtain additional licences in licence areas where the cap has been exceeded.

C2-5: Licensees planning to transfer any of their existing holdings in order to increase their eligibility to bid in the related licence areas must do so prior to submitting an application to participate in this auction process.

C2-6: Licensees planning to relinquish any of their existing holdings to Industry Canada in order to increase their eligibility to bid in the related licence areas must do so at least six months prior to the proposed auction date. In the event that Industry Canada decides to offer these relinquished licences as part of the 2500 MHz auction process, an addendum to the licensing framework for the 2500 MHz auction will be published in order to inform prospective participants of the additional licence offerings.

C2-7: A rollout obligation applicable to all 2500 MHz licences will continue to apply. Industry Canada will consult on the details of the general deployment requirements (e.g. population coverage required and time frame) and their applicability as part of the upcoming consultations on a licensing framework in this band.

Other details related to the rules and licensing process for the 2500 MHz band will be the subject of an upcoming consultation.

Part D – Auction Timing and Next Steps

Decisions related to auction timing

D1-1: Industry Canada will proceed with an auction process for the 700 MHz band in the first half of 2013, followed by an auction process for the 2500 MHz band in early 2014.

D1-2: To mitigate uncertainty for the auction participants, the policy decisions for both bands are being published at the same time. Further, the auction design, opening bids and conditions of licence for the 2500 MHz auction will be published prior to the start of the 700 MHz auction.


Footnotes

  1. 56 The subscriber market share for Ontario will apply for the licence area 2-06, Eastern Ontario and Outaouais.
  2. 57 For the Tier 2-14 licence area (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut), only the national market share criteria will apply.
  3. 58 Operation in therestricted bands (2570-2575 MHz and 2615-2620 MHz) is specified in SMSE-005-11:Decisions on a Band Plan for Broadband Radio Service (BRS) and Consultationon a Policy and Technical Framework to License Spectrum in the Band 2500-2690MHz.