Half of spectrum licencees opted to use ISED’s COVID flexibility

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada allowed companies to defer about $263 million in spectrum and radio licence fees and made other changes to its spectrum licence procedures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its response to a petition for immediate action to improve rural connectivity, tabled last week, the federal government said it “has taken several steps to assist telecom service providers, such as extending the payment date for spectrum license fees to provide cash-flow relief, allowing unused spectrum to be shared to increase capacity for wireless services, and accelerating the process to get licenses.” The government postponed payments for spectrum licence fees from March 31 to Sept. 1. ISED spokesperson Geneviève Sicard said in an email that the value of the deferred spectrum licences is approximately $263 million. “Close to half of our licensees (21,000) are benefitting from the new measures put in place,” she said. In response to a question asking for more detail on the spectrum sharing measures outlined by the government in its petition response, another ISED spokesperson said companies that need additional capacity -- and have reached an agreement with another company to subordinate spectrum -- can obtain a short term, temporary authorisations lasting nine months. “The Department has also granted short-term 90-day licences in rural areas in the 5.9 GHz band (which is currently unused by Direct Short Range Communications) to wireless service providers so they could meet increased community demand,” spokesperson Christopher Génier said in an email, noting those licences can be extended beyond 90 days. He added that ISED has streamlined how it reviews and approves emergency licence requests, “which takes into consideration the lower risk of a short-term arrangement.” The ongoing pandemic also previously led ISED to postpone the upcoming 3500 MHz spectrum auction. While the government promised in late April that it would speed up its rural broadband funding — originally planned for the spring — due to the impacts on COVID-19 and increased demands for connectivity, the launch of its Universal Broadband Fund has now been delayed. In its response to the petition, which was initiated by Inger Calder of Kenora, Ont. and sponsored by Liberal MP Gudie Hutchings, the government also said the CRTC “is similarly engaged with providers regarding COVID-19 issues and adjusting its processes in response." CRTC spokesperson Eric Rancourt said that was referring to a statement the CRTC issued in April about delays and postponements of some proceedings due to the pandemic. The CRTC also considered measures it could take to help telecom service consumers during the pandemic, a briefing note for chief of consumer, research and communications Scott Hutton obtained through access to information shows. The note, which looked at ensuring Canadians “are able to access and use to the fullest potential Internet and wireless services during the current health crisis,” said that a number of consumer groups had called for the CRTC to put in a prohibition on price increases during the pandemic. But the note advised Hutton that wasn’t something that was feasible in the short or medium term, given that the CRTC had already forborne from price regulation, and would have to hold a proceeding to reverse that decision. The note also said the CRTC learned from the record of a previous proceeding that “finding solutions to the issue of affordability requires a multi-faceted approach involving multiple stakeholders.” The note outlined different options for communicating with the telecom industry. It concluded the Canadian Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (CSTAC), a venue for the public and private sectors to exchange information and collaborate that meets weekly, wasn’t a good option. It said that after “engaging with CSTAC co-chairs, it has been determined that due to its technical nature and mandate it would not be an effective forum in which to raise these issues.” Instead, it identified the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association as one option to engage with the industry. — With reporting by Anja Karadeglija at akarad@thewirereport.ca and editing by Michael Lee-Murphy at mleemurphy@thewirereport.ca

Half of spectrum licencees opted to use ISED’s COVID flexibility

News | July 29, 2020

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Half of spectrum licencees opted to use ISED’s COVID flexibility

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