Satellite radio battle threatens to derail spectrum harmonization for fixed services

Industry Canada’s proposal to open up new spectrum for fixed wireless services has re-opened a longstanding dispute between Canada and the U.S. over the introduction of digital radio broadcasting. At issue is a plan by the Canadian government to harmonize radio frequencies between us and our neighbour to the south, in four radio bands included in the 2285-2483.5 MHz range. The band that has Canada’s broadcasting industry worried is 2320-2345 MHz, frequencies that will be used in the U.S. for digital audio radio service by satellite (DARS). Canada and the U.S. have never seen eye to eye on digital radio. On the terrestrial side, the U.S. government bowed to pressure from private broadcasters to avoid digital radio altogether, opting instead for an enhanced in-band technology. Canada is using the L-band spectrum (1452-1492 MHz) for terrestrial DARS, and commercial stations have been operating since late last year. In the U.S., DARS spectrum has already been licensed, and the first satellites are set to launch later this year. Those satellites will beam 100 digital radio channels into the U.S. – with spill over into southern Canada – starting early next year. But Canada doesn’t have a policy or spectrum set aside for DARS. Radiocomm carriers responding to Industry Canada’s call for comments on its new fixed wireless assignments (Gazette Notice DGTP-003-00) support harmonization of spectrum frequencies between Canada and the U.S. While primarily interested in the three bands being considered for wireless communications services (WCS), they say applications designed for 2320-2345 MHz should mirror what’s already been decided in the U.S. From a technical and service standpoint, harmonization with the U.S. on all spectrum assignments makes the most sense. In comments filed with Industry Canada, both private and public broadcasters are calling on the government to hold off on any decisions until there is a comprehensive review of satellite radio in Canada. The Canadian Broadcasting Corp was particularly vocal in its opposition to any harmonization plan, saying it would clear the way for the creation of a grey market for American digital radio services. It warns that "these proposed initiatives will create significant opportunities for the U.S. digital radio audio broadcast (DAB) industry’s possible future operations in Canada, with no reciprocal benefit to the Canadian DAB industry in either the U.S. or Canada." BCE Media agrees, calling for a moratorium on the licensing of existing services in this band. "BCE Media recommends that the department begin a consultative process with Canadian industry concerning the use of the band 2310-2360 MHz for satellite DARS in Canada with a view towards harmonizing this spectrum range with the U.S." The Canadian Association of Broadcasters says harmonizing spectrum allocations for border countries is a good idea, but only when mutually beneficial. "However, harmonization in this band would not result in the establishment of new Canadian DARS satellites since the whole band will be occupied by the existing U.S. DARS licensees," it writes. The CAB also opposes the proposed moratorium on the licensing of new fixed systems in this particular band. It argues that "refraining from licensing new fixed systems while simultaneously moving existing systems to other bands will ‘cleanse’ the 2320-2345 MHz band in Canada during the period of the moratorium. Since the moratorium would coincide with the launch of the U.S. DARS services, these licensees would then have a clear run at attracting Canadian audiences." It urges Industry Canada to act quickly and decisively on this issue, since U.S. DARS services will be launched within months. "Given the urgency of the situation, there is no time to engage in further public debate on the future of this particular band. A decision should be taken as soon as the Department finishes reviewing the public comments received as a result of this present Notice." Licensing the other bands should prove easier Wireless service providers are far more interested in the other three bands. MCS and MDS licensees are anxious to expand their service offerings to include more broadband wireless applications, but to do that they need more spectrum. The "super 2 GHz" spectrum, as it has been called, would provide that additional capacity (see related story on page 3). Boyd Craig of Craig Wireless International supports the department’s proposal to assign 2305-2320 MHz and 2345-2360 MHz for wireless communications services (WCS) as it has been done in the U.S. Given the proximity of the spectrum to MDS and MCS, many U.S. service providers are already amassing spectrum in these bands for fixed wireless services. Canadian providers also see them as a way to offer more fixed wireless services, as well as a return path for high-speed Internet. "The market trend towards bundling and the provision of an integrated services package is no different in Canada than in the U.S.," Craig writes in its June 22 intervention to Industry Canada. "MCS and MDS service providers require the capacity necessary to deliver more than a single service offering – including television, high-speed Internet and voice telephony services." Both Wispra Inc and Look Communications Inc agree the spectrum should be harmonized with the U.S. and that it should be designated for WCS. Look writes in its comments that "MMDS systems in the U.S. utilize the WCS bands for two-way telecommunications applications (wireless Internet access). As such, Look believes that the WCS bands should be made available to Canadian MDS operators for use as out-of-band return spectrum for interactive broadcast and non-broadcast services." AT&T Wireless Services Inc wants the bands completely cleared to facilitate the harmonization of the bands with those of the United States. Wispra acknowledges that displacing existing users from the bands is a thorny issue, but that the drawback is "secondary to the benefits available with harmonization, and that these legacy applications can be well served by allocations in other frequency bands."

Satellite radio battle threatens to derail spectrum harmonization for fixed services

News | July 24, 2000

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