Gazette Notice SMSE-005-05

Comments Received

Department of Industry

Radiocommunication Act

Notice No. SMSE-005-05 — Consultation Paper on Broadband over Power Line (BPL) Communication Systems

Introduction

The purpose of this notice is to invite interested parties to comment on the document entitled Consultation Paper on Broadband over Power Line (BPL) Communication Systems.

Background

It has been the Department’s experience that Canadian consumers and businesses want access to the latest technology and applications to increase productivity and to improve their standard of living. As new technologies are developed, the Department studies their potential impact on the existing radiocommunication environment and, where necessary, establishes technical provisions to enable these products and devices to enter the marketplace and coexist with authorized radiocommunication systems.

BPL is a new technology that uses the power distribution grid to deliver high-speed Internet services to customers, businesses and industries. This technology could provide benefits to communities where access to these services is not available. As power lines reach virtually every home and community in the country, BPL systems could play an important role in providing an alternative, competitive means of offering broadband services to Canadians. At the same time, the Department is cognizant that widespread operation of BPL systems may lead to interference problems for some radio services.

The intent of this consultation paper is to seek comment on the deployment and regulation of BPL systems, including the specific equipment standards and operational requirements which address potential interference to radio services.

With this consultation process, the Department is taking steps towards facilitating the deployment of BPL technology in Canada while ensuring the protection of radiocommunication services.

Submitting Comments

Interested parties should submit their comments no later than November 28, 2005. Shortly after the close of the comment period, all comments received will be posted on Industry Canada’s Spectrum Management and Telecommunications Web site at: http://strategis.gc.ca/spectrum.

Respondents are requested to provide their comments in electronic format (WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF or ASCII TXT) to the following
e-mail address, DGSE-BPL@ic.gc.ca, along with a note specifying the software, version number and operating system used.

Written submissions should be addressed to the Director General, Spectrum Engineering Branch, Industry Canada, 300 Slater Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0C8.

All submissions should cite the Canada Gazette, Part I, the publication date, the title, and the notice reference number (SMSE-005-05).

Obtaining Copies

Copies of this notice and documents referred to are available electronically on the Spectrum Management and Telecommunications Web site at: http://strategis.gc.ca/spectrum.

Official printed copies of Canada Gazette notices can be obtained from the Canada Gazette Web site at: http://canadagazette.gc.ca/publication-e.html or by calling the sales counter of Canadian Government Publishing at
(819) 941-5995 or 1 800 635-7943.

July 19, 2005

________________________  
R.W. McCaughern                  
Director General
Spectrum Engineering Branch