Gazette Notice DGTP-005-05

Note: Refer to Gazette Notice DGTP-008-05: Extension to the Comment Period for Consultation Paper: Proposed Spectrum Utilization Policy,Technical and Licensing Requirements for Broadband Public Safety in the Band 4 940-4 990 MHz

Department of Industry

Radiocommunication Act

Notice No. DGTP-005-05 — Proposed Spectrum Utilization Policy, Technical and Licensing Requirements for Broadband Public Safety in the Band 4 940-4 990 MHz

The intent of this Notice is to initiate public consultation through the release of the above-mentioned spectrum document to accommodate broadband public safety services in the frequency band 4 940-4 990 MHz.

Discussion

The provision of public safety and national security services relies heavily on advanced communications. The need for new wireless technologies and radio applications has put significant pressure to find priority spectrum for these requirements.

With the modernization of telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructures, the Department has been able to allocate new spectrum to meet critical public safety and security needs. For example the digitization of over-the-air TV broadcasting has opened a modest amount of priority spectrum for public safety in the range 746-806 MHz. The Department has since released Spectrum Utilization Policy 3-30 GHz (October 2004), which in part, designated the band 4 940‑4 990 MHz for broadband public safety communications.

In response to this new broadband public safety designation, the Department received responses from several Canadian public safety agencies. These agencies stressed how critical the band 4 940-4 990 MHz is to support advanced broadband technologies which enable high-speed wireless transfers of large files, images and video, as well as intranet access, at specified locations. These agencies further indicated the importance of dedicated spectrum for broadband applications.

The Department has worked over the past years towards improving the critical communication and infrastructure of public safety agencies as well as ensuring access to spectrum resources. This consultation initiative to open broadband spectrum for public safety services represents an example of the Department’s commitment to address public safety and security spectrum needs. Further, this consultation proposes to establish the spectrum policy, technical and licensing provisions to allow public safety agencies early implementation of critical broadband systems in the band 4 940-4 990 MHz.

Interested parties are invited to submit comments on the proposal for the implementation of broadband public safety services in the band 4 940-4 990 MHz.

Submitting Comments

Respondents are requested to provide their comments no later than October 7, 2005, in electronic format (WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF or ASCII TXT) to the following e-mail address: wireless@ic.gc.ca, along with a note specifying the software, version number and operating system used.

Written submissions should be addressed to the Director, Spectrum and Radio Policy, Telecommunications Policy Branch, Industry Canada, 1604A, 300 Slater Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0C8.

All submissions should cite the Canada Gazette, Part I, the publication date, title, and Notice reference number DGTP-005-05.

Obtaining Copies

Copies of the consultation paper are available electronically on the Spectrum Management and Telecommunications Web site at: http://strategis.gc.ca/spectrum.

Official printed copies of gazette notices can be obtained at the Canada Gazette Web site at: http://canadagazetteducanada.gc.ca/publication-e.html or by calling the sales counter of Canadian Government Publishing at (613) 941-5995 or 1 800 635-7943.

June 23, 2005

______________________________________

Larry Shaw
Director General
Telecommunications Policy Branch