OTTAWA – Industry Canada released its Consultation on 3500 MHz Licensing Approach Tuesday which includes a ‘first-come, first-served’ licensing process for rural broadband service providers.
In keeping with the government's "use-it-or-lose-it" policy announced last November, where 3500 MHz licences would only be renewed where all conditions of licence have been met, including deployment, Industry Minister James Moore has proposed that 3500 MHz licence areas be designated as either "urban" or "rural" to support their differing requirements.
In rural areas, the government is now consulting on a new licensing process for fixed wireless services (broadband Internet to the home) and proposes a first-come, first-served licensing approach. These licences would be issued for the coverage area and amount of spectrum required to operate, which would permit more communities to be served and enhance broadband Internet services in rural and northern communities.
To help meet the increasing demand for mobile spectrum in urban areas, the government is proposing to reallocate the 3500 MHz band to allow mobile services in urban areas, as only fixed services such as broadband Internet to the home are currently permitted. A future consultation will be launched to determine the appropriate licensing framework for the implementation of these mobile services in urban areas.
"Our government committed to putting unused spectrum licences to use, and today we are following through on that pledge”, said Minister Moore, in a statement. “Today's announcement also means that rural communities will benefit from enhanced access to high-speed Internet services. We will continue to put the interests of consumers first to ensure that Canadians have more choice and better services from their wireless service providers.”
Comments on the consultation paper on the 3500 MHz licensing approach are due by October 8, 2014.
