OTTAWA — Canada’s new Innovation, Science and Industry minister, François-Philippe Champagne, apparently got right to work on his new portfolio, judging from a press release issued today by the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa announcing the United States and Canada have signed a new general coordination agreement on the use of the radio frequency spectrum by terrestrial radiocommunication stations and earth stations (the GCA).
Signed by U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Katherine Brucker, on behalf of the U.S. government, and Minister Champagne, the new GCA updates the “Above 30 Agreement”, which acted as the framework for coordination of cross-border radio frequency spectrum between the U.S. and Canada for radio frequencies above 30 MHz for more than 50 years.
The new agreement modernizes the existing coordination framework, for the first time since 1962, allowing for more timely deployment of new telecommunications services to consumers, says the U.S. embassy’s press release.
According to the release, the GCA will accommodate efficient spectrum use, avoid harmful interference and strengthen the ability of regulatory agencies to manage spectrum effectively at the border.
“This agreement is yet another example of what our two countries can accomplish, even under the constraints of an ongoing pandemic. Our countries recognize the critical importance of ensuring agreements such as this continue to keep pace with changes in the rapidly developing telecommunications field. The GCA provides U.S. and Canadian agencies with the flexibility and scope to address the rapid evolution of wireless technologies,” said Chargé d’Affaires Brucker, in the release.
