IPC-2-3-02 - Coast Station Licensing

Issue 2
June 2007

Internal Procedures Circular

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The intent of this document is to provide information and procedures for licensing a maritime coast station.

Preface

Internal Procedures Circulars are issued for the guidance of departmental staff. Although intended for internal use only, they are also available to the public. The information contained in these circulars is subject to change without notice. It is therefore suggested that interested persons consult the nearest district office of Industry Canada for additional details. While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure accuracy, no warranty is expressed or implied. As well, these circulars have no status in law.

Comments and suggestions may be directed to the following address: 

Industry Canada
Radiocommunications and
Broadcasting Regulatory Branch
300 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0C8

Attention: DOSP

E-mail: spectrum_pubs@ic.gc.ca

All Spectrum Management and Telecommunications publications are available on the following website: http://strategis.gc.ca/spectrum.

Contents

1. Intent
2. Mandate
3. Related Documents
4. Policy
   • 4.1 Definition
   • 4.2 Channel 16 - 156.800 MHz
   • 4.3 Port Operation Services
   • 4.4 Non-Commercial Long-range Communications
   • 4.5 Private Long-Range Communications
   • 4.6 Speech Scrambling
   • 4.7 Maritime Mobile Service Identities (MMSI) Number
   
   
5. Procedure
   • 5.1 Application Forms
   • 5.2 Licence Fees
   • 5.3 Radio Equipment Technical Standards
   • 5.4 Frequency Bands
   • 5.5 Frequency Coordination
   • 5.6 Power Levels
   • 5.7 Call Signs

1. Intent

The intent of this document is to provide information and procedures for licensing a coast station.

2. Mandate

Section 5 of the Radiocommunication Act states that the Minister may issue radio licences in respect of radio apparatus. Section 9 of the Radiocommunication Regulations lists the application eligibility requirements for coast station licences.

3. Related Documents

Industry Canada documents are available on the Spectrum Management and Telecommunications website at: http://strategis.gc.ca/spectrum in Official Publications.

4. Policy

4.1 Definition

A Coast Station is a station operated in a terrestrial service and located on land or on a ship that is permanently moored and is used for communication with ships at sea.

4.2 Channel 16 - 156.800 MHz

The frequency 156.800 MHz is the international distress, safety and calling frequency for stations of the maritime mobile service.

This frequency may be assigned to any Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) coast station. However, Channel 16 shall not be assigned to non-CCG coast stations unless the applicant obtains and submits, to Industry Canada, a letter of approval from the CCG. Requests for the use of 156.800 MHz by non-CCG stations should be made to: 

Manager, Marine Communication and Traffic Services
Canadian Coast Guard
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent Street
5^th Floor, Station S041
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0E6

Normally, CCG grants its approval to such stations, located beyond the VHF coverage of the Canadian Coast Guard Radio Service. As a condition of licensing, the licensee must agree to immediately cease operation if the CCG VHF network expands to include that area of operation. Once CCG operations begin in an area, authority for the non-CCG station to operate on 156.800 MHz will be withdrawn.

Furthermore, these stations must provide services to all ship stations without discrimination.

4.3 Port Operation Services

In addition to the shore-based facilities operated by CCG, certain government and private agencies provide ship/shore (safety) radio services. The port operation services are of a local nature such as harbour control, pilotage, canal vessel dispatching and intership communications, for the efficient movement and safety of shipping. Stations on land in the port operations service may be licensed as coast stations providing a private maritime mobile service. These are bona fide maritime mobile radio services and are considered to be supplementary to the general ship/shore services provided by CCG.

4.4 Non-Commercial Long-range Communications

Refer to Regulation by Reference 2 (previously RIC-13), Technical Requirements for the Operation of Mobile Stations in the Maritime Service (RBR-2), for information on this subject.

4.5 Private Long-Range Communications

Refer to RBR-2 for information on this subject.

4.6 Speech Scrambling

Refer to IPC-2-3-01, Ship Station Licensing, for information on this subject.

4.7 Maritime Mobile Service Identities (MMSI) Number

Refer to IPC and CPC-2-3-07 for information on this subject.

5. Procedure

5.1 Application Forms

The applicant shall use form IC-2365 for filing applications for coast station licences or such other formats which have been approved by the regional or district office. Other documents such as topographic maps and multicoupler diagrams (if applicable) may be requested of the applicant.

5.2 Licence Fees

Licence fees are calculated based on the fee schedules listed in the Radiocommunication Regulations. Refer to the RIC-42, Guide for Calculating Radio Licence Fees for fee calculation examples.

5.3 Radio Equipment Technical Standards

Radio equipment to be employed at coast stations in the maritime mobile service shall meet the requirements of RSS-117, RSS-181 and RSS-182 (Radio Standard Specifications) for the frequency bands 200-535 kHz, 1.6-28 MHz and 156-162.5 MHz respectively.

5.4 Frequency Bands

Frequencies are available for assignment to coast stations from within the bands 200-535 kHz, 1.6-28 MHz and 156-162.5 MHz.

Further information regarding frequencies in use by Canadian coast stations is contained in the CCG publications Radio Aids to Marine Navigation (Atlantic and Great Lakes) or (Pacific).

Refer to IPC-2-3-03, RBR-2 and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations for information on maritime mobile frequency allocations in the VHF, MF, and HF bands.

5.5 Frequency Coordination

VHF assignments in the maritime mobile bands shall be coordinated in the same fashion as for those in the VHF land mobile bands.

Notification of new assignments in the MF and HF bands to the International Frequency Registration Board (IFRB) is done automatically at Headquarters. DSIR-T receives a weekly download, from the Automated Licensing System (ALS), of all new assignments below 30 MHz. DSIR-T then uses this information to notify the IFRB. The process is completely transparent to the district offices authorizing the assignments.

5.6 Power Levels

In view of the safety service provided by CCG coast stations, the Department may authorize power levels greater than those authorized for other stations. While linear amplifier installations are not uncommon at CCG stations, their use by non-CCG coast stations should only be authorized under the most extenuating circumstances.

The Department normally limits the radiated power of non-CCG coast stations, operating on MF or HF channels, to the output power of the transmitter, as type-approved under the appropriate Radio Standards Specification (RSS).

Coast stations operating on VHF channels may be authorized to use high-gain, directional antennas. Notwithstanding the above, all licensees should be aware that, wherever possible, they are expected to operate at the minimum power levels required to assure reliable communications.

5.7 Call Signs

Coast station call signs are assigned by our licensing system during processing.

An agreement exists between the Department of Industry and the Department of the Environment for a form of identification which identifies Continuous Weather Broadcast Facilities without the actual reference to a call sign (e.g. "Weather Radio Canada - Vancouver"). However, call signs shall be assigned to these stations in the normal fashion.