Opposition mounts to opening up radio licensing information to third parties

Law enforcement agencies, federal government departments, and major telecommunications carriers are citing the events of Sept. 11 in telling Industry Canada not to make any changes to the current framework regarding the release of radio licensing information to the general public. They say that in the wake of the terrorist attacks, tighter controls on access to the spectrum holdings of law enforcement agencies is paramount to maintaining solid national security. The comments are in response to Industry Canada’s proposal (DGRB-005-01) to open up access to information regarding the pending radio licences of both commercial and public safety groups to third parties. In its original proposal, the department stated that making the process more transparent would help streamline the spectrum licensing process in certain cases by enabling potential users to conduct their own EMC testing (RoW, Aug. 21). The department also states in the Gazette Notice that it may restrict access in specific cases in the interest of security. But some law enforcement agencies are concerned that providing greater access to their radio spectrum holdings could have a negative impact on their operations. The Montreal police department recalls that about 10 years ago, an Industry Canada contract employee stole documents containing radio licence information of the provincial and municipal police agencies. How can the department guarantee that the information won’t be acquired for criminal or subversive purposes? it asks. The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police is also concerned that certain information relating to police frequencies could fall into the wrong hands. "This means that any number of people in organizations engaged in licensing matters, that may not have proper background checks done, will have access to police radio information," the association’s Information and Technology Committee writes. "This also means that police radio information in a pending state would be fully available to the public." The Department of National Defence states that releasing this information to the public could compromise current operations. "Releasing site-specific licensing information would reduce our operational effectiveness and make our infrastructure more vulnerable," DND writes. "In order to preserve our national security capability, it is essential that DND licensing information not be made available online." However, large spectrum users want greater access to the spectrum to be able to better coordinate their own radio network deployment plans. The Railway Association of Canada (RAC), which already has an agreement with Industry Canada (RoW, April 17/00), and Nav Canada agree that opening up the database of radio licensing information is a step in the right direction. Nav Canada says it needs this information to conduct EMC analyses to prevent interference to radio navigation and communications. "Therefore, it is our desire that this information be made available to Nav Canada and if possible be made more complete than it is now," it writes. It recognizes, however, that releasing sensitive police and national defence information is probably not in the best interests of the government and proposes to assign file numbers to each of the licensees, thus eliminating the possibility of malicious use of the information. Bell Mobility concurs with Nav Canada that certain radio licensing data should not be made available to the general public. Both say that given the current international situation this may not be the appropriate time to be moving in this direction. "Bell Mobility suggests that under the current international environment, where consideration of additional security measures would appear warranted, the existing policy restricting the release of radio licensing information to the general public for federal, provincial, regional and municipal police as well as other security forces should be retained," the wireless carrier writes.

Opposition mounts to opening up radio licensing information to third parties

News | 11/13/2001 5:00 am EST

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