OTTAWA and WASHINGTON, D.C. – Industry Canada and the U.S. Federal Communications Commission have agreed on three interim spectrum-sharing arrangements covering a range of wireless communications operations along the U.S.-Canada border.
In a series of correspondence documents dated August 20 (which are available on the FCC website), the two agencies agreed to work together to share and coordinate various spectrum bands for air-ground, land mobile, and fixed users.
One of the arrangements confirms the FCC, Industry Canada, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will work together to facilitate the deployment of fixed services within the border area in the 71-76, 81-86, and 94.1-95 GHz spectrum bands. Those services include backhaul for mobile broadband networks, high-speed wireless local area networks and broadband Internet access over high bandwidth point-to- point links.
A second arrangement covers the sharing and coordination of specialized mobile radio services in the 896-901 and 935-940 MHz bands for services operating within 100 kilometres of the common border. The FCC said the agreement, which is meant to simplify the criteria for secondary users in the band while protecting primary users, may become part of a larger treaty or replacement agreement governing services operating above 30 MHz.
Industry Canada and the FCC also signed a statement of intent to share the 454.6625- 454.9875 MHz and 459.6625- 459.9875 MHz frequency bands for mobile and fixed services along the Canada-u.s. border.
In a statement from the FCC, acting chair Mignon Clyburn said these arrangements “will help pave the way for improved wireless broadband deployment along the U.S.-Canada border for consumers and businesses, among other multiple public and commercial benefits.
“The arrangements are also critical to maximizing interference protection for commercial licensees operating along our common border with Canada, and will also promote more efficient use of spectrum,” said Clyburn.
