OTTAWA – To the surprise of few, Industry Canada has decided to repurpose most spectrum in the 600 MHz range now used by TV broadcasters and others so it can be used to feed the insatiable demand for cellular data bandwidth.
However, in a ruling released Friday the department put off any decision on whether the federal government will compensate existing users of these frequencies, Canadian television broadcasters and others, for having to move to new digital TV frequencies.
“While many respondents were supportive (of repurposing the spectrum) contingent on the costs of relocation being reimbursed, it is important to note that this is the first step of a multi-year process that focuses on the technical aspects of the repurposing of spectrum in the 600 MHz band,” the decision, released Friday, said. “Consideration of compensation is not a part of this consultation process.”
However, it sure was part of the applications the department received, as we reported.
"It is great to see Industry Canada continue to make available great spectrum for mobile service providers to try to keep ahead of seemingly insatiable consumer demand," said telecom consultant Mark Goldberg in an email.
Consultant Iain Grant, managing director of the Montreal-based SeaBoard Group, added in an email that the decision was “very much as expected. Mirroring the U.S. will make for less potential for interference.”
He also noted Industry Canada’s promise to look out for remote rural broadcasting systems (RRBS), who may be pushed off their current frequencies as a result of the plan.
The decision said Ottawa “recognizes the cost of changing frequencies and replacing equipment and will minimize the impact by displacing incumbents only on an "as necessary" basis. It believes many RRBS stations will be unaffected for years. Those who are now using 600 MHz frequencies and have to move to other channels will be given two years notice.
But “in limited circumstances” RRBS broadcasters using UHF spectrum may also be affected by the shuffling of frequencies and may only get five months notice.
Current users of the 600 MHz band include over the air (OTA) TV broadcasting, RRBS stations, low-power apparatus (such as wireless microphones and camera systems), TV white space (TVWS) devices and wireless medical telemetry systems (WMTS). This spectrum is also used for radio astronomy service (RAS) (band 608-614 MHz). Industry Canada is not considering any change to the allocation of spectrum to the RAS band.
There was no word on when a Canadian 600 MHz auction will be held.
The decision comes as the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is preparing to hold an incentive auction for the 600 MHz band early next year. Proceeds from that auction will go to broadcasters currently using those frequencies, if they take part. As a result, Industry Canada felt pressure to ensure that spectrum use policies on this side of the border are in sync with those to the south prior to its auction.
In fact, it will adopt the U.S. framework entirely. However, to ensure that people still receiving TV on the UHF bands the department will increase the guard band to ensure there won’t be television interference from the new mobile broadband users.
“Significant benefits are realized when Canada aligns spectrum use with the United States, particularly when it comes to OTA TV broadcasting.” – Industry Canada
As part of the decision Industry Canada also said it will jointly establish with the FCC a new digital TV (DTV) allotment plan based on repacking over the air (OTA) TV broadcasting stations more tightly in lower frequencies. “Canada and the United States intend to develop an understanding on a set of principles guiding this process,” the decision said.
“Significant benefits are realized when Canada aligns spectrum use with the United States, particularly when it comes to OTA TV broadcasting (due to the long range of broadcast transmissions and the high percentage of the Canadian population that lives along the Canada-US border) and mobile services (as Canadians would benefit from the economies of scale of the ecosystem developed for the United States),” the decision noted.
“A joint repurposing initiative would result in an allotment plan that is very spectrally efficient and maximizes the amount of spectrum for both broadcast and mobile services in both countries. By taking part in a joint repurposing initiative with the United States, virtually every Canadian broadcaster would be guaranteed a channel in the new allotment plan for its existing stations. It is also expected that rural ISPs (internet service providers) would be able to continue to operate either in the broadcast frequencies or in alternate spectrum bands.”
The department also promised to work with low power TV stations (LPTV, a “significant number” of whom will be affected by the repackaging of televisions channels. A digital channel will be found for “virtually” all of them. These stations operate on a no-interference, no-protection basis.
While Bell declined to comment on the decision, a Rogers Communications spokesperson said in an email the company is "excited about any initiative that looks to add lanes to our wireless highway and put these valuable resources to good use for Canadians."
