OTTAWA – So I’m sitting in the Second Cup in Ottawa’s Byward Market yesterday, remembering that Rogers and the coffee chain have a deal to provide free WiFi hotspots around the country.
I’m looking to post a story or two and access my e-mails. I power up and find six wireless networks I could potentially access (none are Rogers though). Four are secured. I pick the open one called “netgear” and log on to find out I’m sharing the wireless bubble of the Ottawa Suites nearby. I’m able to post a story and answer some e-mails before my meeting.
It’s this explosion of wireless technology, mixed with new digital over-the-air broadcast signals that spurred today’s announcement from Industry Canada saying it will undertake a public consultation on its spectrum policy framework overseeing spectrum management in Canada.
This is another initiative to bring the Canadian policy and regulatory regimes overseeing the telecommunications and radiocommunication systems up to date to accommodate the increasing demand for wireless products by consumers and businesses, says the press release.
"Tremendous growth is taking place in radiocommunication technologies and services, and to meet the government’s commitment to relying on smart regulation we need to ensure that our policies and procedures are keeping up," said Minister David Emerson. "I invite all stakeholders to make their views known so we can better serve Canadians."
With the digitization of radio services, an accelerated array of new technologies and applications are available. As well, the Internet and wireless phenomena are driving the convergence of services, such as voice, data and media, on single wireless systems. They are also playing an increasingly critical role in meeting our public safety, security and sovereignty needs.
The current framework was established in the early 1990s.
The increasing demand for wireless services, and the fact that technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, makes a comprehensive review of the Canadian spectrum policy framework timely, adds the release. This is especially true in light of initiatives to modernize the Canadian telecommunications policy and its regulatory aspects.
A notice announcing the publication of a paper entitled, Consultation on a Renewed Spectrum Policy Framework for Canada and Continued Advancements in Spectrum Management, will be published on May 14, 2005, in the Canada Gazette. The paper is also available on Industry Canada’s Strategis Web site.
This consultation paper discusses the objectives and guiding principles of the Canadian spectrum management program. The paper also invites comments on areas for advancing spectrum management practices which, among various objectives, could augment the efficient use of spectrum, enable more flexible use of allocations, and generally facilitate access to spectrum for future services and consumer products.
Public consultation is an important step in ensuring that any decisions on a renewed policy will best reflect the interest of Canadians and better respond to a competitive marketplace, concluded the release.
– Greg O’Brien
