RP-013 — Spectrum Utilization Policy on the Use of Certain Public Correspondence Bands in Canada (GLMRS)

October 1988

Table of Contents

• Related Documents

1. Intent
2. Introduction
3. Policy

• Annex 1
• Annex 2

Related Documents

• SMSE-001-05 Redeployment Plan (100-500 MHz) - Temporary Moratorium of Phase 2 Radio Equipment Certification and Licensing Requirements
• SMSE-009-98 Redeployment Plan for Spectrum Efficient Land Mobile Equipment in the Frequency Range 100-500 MHz (RDP 100-500 MHz)
• RP-019 Policy for the Provision of Cellular Services by New Parties

1. Intent

The purpose of this document is to specify the Spectrum Utilizatin Policy for current and future use of very high frequency (VHF) and ultra high frequency (UHF) radio frequency spectrum formerly licensed exclusively to telephone companies for public correspondence General Land Mobile Radiotelephone Service (GLMRS). General land mobile radiotelephone systems provide a low capacity two-way radiocommunication service originating from or terminating at a mobile radio transceiver, on groups of radio channels used exclusively for interconnection to the public switched network.

2. Introduction

In 1982, the Department authorized the establishment of two national cellular radio service providers while at the same time sub-allocating for their use 40 MHz of North American compatible spectrum in the band 806-890 MHz. Since its introduction at that time, cellular radio has shown significant public acceptance resulting in an appreciable, continuing rate of growth with every indication that cellular radio will eventually supercede the provision of radiotelephone services by GLMRS systems in terms of subscribers served and quality of service.

With regard to the designed GLMRS channels, it is worth noting that, while they are set aside on a Canada-wide basis for this purpose, there are some areas in the country where they are not utilized. There is also a significant demand in many areas (particularly rural) for their use for the replacement of local loops (copper wire circuits from the switching centre to the subscribers premises) to assist in the provision of basic telephone service in remote areas. Recently, applicants have been able to secure interconnection with the public switched network and have consequently shown interest in providing competitive GLMRS services. In light of the foregoing, it was timely to review the longer term need for the continuation of older and less efficient radiotelephone systems. With this objective in mind, a paper entitled "Spectrum Utilization Policy on the Use of Certain Public Correspondence Bands in Canada" (RP 013) was released for public comment as noted in the Canada Gazette in February, 1988. This paper raised a number of issues and made a number of policy proposals concerning the continuing operation of existing GLMRS systems.

Taking into account the comments received in response to RP 013, it has become apparent that there is a need to up-date and clarify the Department's policies with respect to the utilization of the spectrum which was dedicated to GLMRS. The policies outlined in this document will apply effective with the release of this document.

3. Policy

3.1 Use of the frequencies described in Annex 2, Part (b) is hereby withdrawn for GLMRS purposes. No further applications for the establishment of GLMRS systems on these frequencies will be authorized. Future disposition of these frequencies will be dealt within in the Department's project, currently underway, reviewing use of the radio frequency spectrum between 30-890 MHz.

3.2 In those areas where cellular radio has been, or will soon be implemented, the VHF GLMRS channels listed in Annex 2, Part (a) will continue to be authorized, but only to existing service providers. However, in those areas listed in Annex 1, Parts (a) and (b), where GLMRS has been or will be withdrawn, the Department will henceforth assign these channels for the expansion of large capacity land mobile systems and other spectrum efficient systems and, subject to channel availability, give preference to operations encompassing the widest possible service areas.

3.3 The Department wishes to encourage the provision of mobile radiotelephone service in areas which are underserved or which are currently not served with any radiotelephone services. Therefore, subject to technical availability of frequency channels, applications for authority to provide a mobile public correspondence radiotelephone service in unserved areas or areas not likely to receive cellular service in the near future, will be accepted from any party, including non-telephone company applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Authority granted for such operation will be for the use of frequencies listed in Annex 2, Part (a). These channels may also be authorized for local loop replacement from rural or remote telephone subscribers to the public switched network. As these channels are allocated to the Mobile Service and local loop replacement is a fixed, not a mobile usage, the following priorities will be afforded each:

• within 60 km of the boundaries of the areas noted in Annex 1, Parts (a) and (b), the Fixed Service will have secondary status and the Mobile Service will have primary status. Local loop replacement will not generally be authorized in these areas, but if authorized, only at the discretion of the Regional Director General, and then on a secondary basis;
• between 60 and 120 km of the boundaries of the areas noted in Annex 1, Parts (a) and (b), the fixed local loop replacement use will be secondary and the mobile use primary. However, if the local loop replacement applicant can demonstrate to the Department that the general level of loading can be achieved (customers per 25 kHz or 30 kHz channel) as usually is the case with Mobile Service use, the local loop replacement will be given co-equal primary status with any mobile service use;
• Further than 120 km from the boundaries of the areas noted in Annex 1, Parts (a) and (b), Fixed and Mobile Service use will be afforded co-equal primary status in assignment.

3.4 The channels previously identified in Annex 2, Part (c) for use by GLMRS have already been withdrawn from GLMRS in areas where they were noted used, pursuant to the policy changes contained in Document SP 450 MHz (formerly SP 300.4). The spectrum utilization for those channels is given in detail in the principal document (SP 450 MHz), but it should be noted that they are generally to be used for wide area system employing spectrum efficient technologies.

3.5 While GLMRS systems were implemented in Canada on the channels identified in Annex 2, Part (d), they remained unused in some parts of the country. Furthermore, because of their GLMRS designation, other potential users were precluded from being licensed on these channels. Therefore, while the Department will permit existing GLMRS systems on the channels noted in Annex 2, Part (d) to continue to operate and grow to their design potential, no new GLMRS systems will be authorized on them.

The Department will henceforth assign these channels for the expansion of large capacity land mobile systems and other spectrum efficient systems (i.e. trunked) and, subject to channel availability, give preference to operations emcompassing the widest possible service areas.

At locations inside the boundaries of the areas listed in Annex 1 Parts (a) and (b), the frequencies listed in Part (d) of Annex 2 will be available to Mobile Services on a primary basis and to Fixed Services on a secondary basis. At locations outside of and extending to 60 km beyond those boundaries the same set of frequencies will be available to fixed systems used for the replacement of "local loop" systems for the extension of basic telephone service to rural and remote subscribers. While such fixed assignments will normally have secondary status in this zone, if it can be demonstrated to the Department that the number of subscriber main station terminals (Fixed Service) approximates or exceeds prescribed conventional mobile loading criteria, they could, at the discretion of the Regional Director General be given co-equal primary status with Mobile Services. At the present time, the prescribed conventional mobile system loading criteria is generally 75 mobiles per 25 kHz duplex channel. Other Fixed Services not associated with the extending of basic telephone service will only be authorized with secondary status in this zone. At distance beyond 60 km from the areas listed in Annex 1, Parts (a) and (b), Mobile and Fixed Services will be afforded co-equal primary status and assignments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.

At the discretion of the Regional Director General, consideration may be given to requests to modify any of the provisions of the foregoing to meet particular local needs.

The licensing of all such services, which require interconnection to the public switched network would be subject to prior decisions and approvals of the appropriate regulatory authority and is intended to provide a basic form of mobile or fixed subscriber radiotelephone communications.

Annex 1

The following areas describe in general terms those areas of spectrum utilization against which alternate users of current VHF and UHF GLMRS radio frequency spectrum will be evaluated:

1. Areas of Intensive Use
   
   Golden Horseshoe Area (Metro Toronto, Hamilton, Brampton, Newmarket, St. Catharines), Vancouver/Victoria area, Metro Montreal area, Metro Edmonton and Metro Calgary.
2. Areas of Moderate Use
   
   Kitchener, Brantford, London, Windsor, Ottawa-Hull, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, St. John's, Quebec, Saint John, Regina, Saskatoon, Halifax, Sherbrooke, Winnipeg, Chicoutimi-Jonquière, Trois-Rivières and zones immediately surrounding the areas of intensive use.
3. Areas of Light Use
   
   This includes all areas not specified in (a) or (b) above.

For further information, consult the Department's District or Regional offices.

Annex 2

Frequencies which have, up to the coming into effect of this policy, been available for General Land Mobile Radio Service, are as follows: