RSP-116 - Licence Application Procedure for Planned Television and/or Radio Receive Only (TVRO) Earth Stations in the Fixed-satellite Service

Licence Application Procedure for Planned Television and/or Radio Receive Only (TVRO) Earth Stations in the Fixed-satellite Service
(PDF, 45 KB, 17 pages)

Issue 2
August 13, 1983

Spectrum Management
Radio Standards Procedure

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Submission and Processing of Documents: New Stations
  3. Submission and Processing of Documents: Modifications to Existing TVRO Earth Stations

1. Introduction

1.1 General

The Minister of Communications has authority to issue licences for such terms and under such conditions as are considered appropriate for ensuring the orderly development and operation of radiocommunications in Canada. The Minister may amend the conditions of any such licence where such amendments are necessary for the purpose for which the original conditions were provided. The Minister may set the time within which the licensee shall commence construction and may also set a time within which the licensee must have the station in operation.

Licences to operate Television and/or Radio Receive-Only (TVRO) earth stations may be issued to eligible applicants listed in Annex A. This licence is normally for a "protected" earth station, as defined in paragraph 1.5 of this document. Licences may only be issued after successful completion of domestic and international coordination which usually requires significant time.

Operation of a TVRO earth station may be exempt from the licensing requirements of the Radio Act if the conditions established in section 6 of the General Radio Regulations, Part II are met. Interested parties may examine these regulations at any district office of the Department or they may obtain a copy of the appropriate extracts by writing to the address mentioned in section 1.6 of this document.

This document outlines the procedure to be followed by an operator or owner of a facility, when applying for a licence for a TVRO earth station from the Minister of Communications. Under this procedure a TVRO earth station is defined as an earth station, the sole purpose of which is reception of television and/or radio programming signals, and which operates in any frequency band allocated in the Canadian Allocation Table to the fixed-satellite service.

The procedure reflects the following major responsibilities of the Minister of Communications:

  1. to optimize the utilization of the radio frequency spectrum and the geostationary satellite orbit;
  2. to provide for the planning of the efficient and orderly growth of the Canadian telecommunications system;
  3. to ensure that the public interest is served through the consideration of all relevant factors in the granting of licences for new radio facilities;
  4. to anticipate, analyze and resolve interference problems in the early stages of system development;
  5. to consider future system expansion plans and provide for frequency protection to the extent practicable; and
  6. to ensure that Canadian radiocommunication systems conform to the provisions of the Radio Act which reflects Canadian agreement to the International Radio Regulations established by the International Telecommunication Union.

The Department reserves the right to discuss with other users of the radio spectrum, or to release to them on demand, and without prejudice, the technical parameters and general performance characteristics of existing and proposed systems.

1.2 Licensing Conditions

1.2.1 Eligibility

This document does not establish eligibility policy, but states the procedures to give effect to the policy statements announced by the Minister of Communications. For information purposes conditions of eligibility as of the date of issue of this procedure are included in Annex A.

1.2.2 CRTC Authorization (see item B.16)

The Department will issue earth station licences under this procedure only after the necessary authorization for distribution of the program signals to be received has been granted to the applicant or his client by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), and a copy has been provided to the Department by the applicant.

The CRTC has a separate process for authorization to use the received signals and it is recommended that where necessary applicants initiate this process as early as possible within their planning cycle. As part of its authorization procedure the CRTC may require the applicant to obtain from the Department a Technical Construction and Operating Certificate (TC&OC), or an amendment thereto, for the satellite signals to be distributed either as broadcasting or cable TV service. It should be noted that, as outlined in BP/23 (see item 1.4 below), the Department requires a minimum grade 4 signal quality to be provided to cable subscribers. Adjustments to the TVRO may be required if, upon analysis, this standard is not met.

1.2.3 Approval from Program Signal Originator (see item B.15)

Evidence must be provided to the Department of approval from the originators of the program signals to be received before a letter of "Acceptability in Principle" will be issued (see section 2.1). It should be noted that the originators of the program signals are not necessarily one and the same as the providers of satellite service.

1.2.4 Antenna Site Clearance Requirements

Antenna which are in close proximity to airports or other Department of Transport (DOT) electronic facilities, or which are excessive in height, must be evaluated by DOT for safety clearance. The applicant should contact the DOT appropriate office (see Annex D) to determine whether such clearance is required for the location of a proposed facility. If such a clearance is not required, the applicant must attach a letter from DOT to this effect. Otherwise, form 16-879 "Particulars of Proposed Site and Radio Antenna Structures" must be completed and submitted as required in section 2 of this document. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the proposed antenna is within 30 metres of a permanent metallic or concrete structure of equal or greater height, and of equal or greater cross-sectional area then a statement to this effect including brief details of the shielding structure can be submitted in lieu of both the ASCF (Antenna Site Clearance Form) and a letter from DOT.

1.2.5 Spurious Emissions

Receive-only earth stations may not emit electromagnetic waves of a field strength greater than that which would occur if it were replaced by an isotropic transmitter of five nanowatts.

1.2.6 Antenna Pattern

In the 4 GHz band (3.7-4.2 GHz), licences to operate protected earth stations will only be issued if the antenna radiation pattern is such that 90% of the sidelobe peaks fall within the envelope shown in figure 1.

1.3 Frequency Coordination and Notification

There are two distinct areas of frequency coordination, namely domestic - which is undertaken by the applicant, and international - which is undertaken by the Department on the applicant's behalf.

Domestic coordination of earth station frequency assignments is to be performed on a full band basis. The applicant must determine and indicate interfering signal levels from potential interferers (including existing and formally proposed facilities within the coordination area of the proposed station which would be sharing frequency bands with the proposed station) and state that these are acceptable for the performance objectives of the applicant's system. The levels deemed to be acceptable may be used for future coordination. Normally, the TVRO will be protected from future radio relay station interference up to a maximum carrier to interference ratio of 28 dB.

International coordination and notification procedures are established by the International Telecommunication Union. The criteria used to determine whether coordination is necessary are published in the Radio Regulations, Appendix 28. Upon completion of international coordination, frequency assignments to earth stations will be notified to the International Frequency Registration Board (IFRB) so that they may be entered in the Master International Frequency Register.

1.4 Related Documents

This procedure replaces RSP-116, Issue 1.

The applicable licence fees are set out in Telecommunications Regulation Circular (TRC) 42 - "Guide for the Calculation of Variable Licence Fees".

Telecommunications Regulation Circular (TRC) 43 - "Notes Regarding Designation of Emission (including necessary bandwidth and classification) Class of Station and Nature of Service" provides a list of designators for emissions and class and nature of service and provides a method to determine the necessary bandwidth of an emission.

The Canadian Allocation Table lists frequency band allocations within Canada.

Performance requirements for cable systems which distribute television programs received from Canadian satellite networks are established in Broadcasting Procedure (BP) 23 - "Technical Standards and Procedures for Broadcast Receiving Undertakings (Cable Television)".

Additional copies of this document and any additional information related to it may be obtained from the Director, Engineering Programs Branch, Telecommunication Regulatory Service, Department of Communications, 300 Slater Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0C8 or any of the Regional offices of the Department.

1.5 Terminology

For the purposes of this document "television" will include the video signal and the associated audio, cue and control subcarriers.

"Protected" earth stations are those for which the frequency assignments are protected, as far as practicable, by the Department from receiving unacceptable levels of interference at the frequencies specified, while working with satellites at locations identified on the licences for those stations. Any changes in these parameters will render the earth station unprotected, unless these changes have been authorized by the Department.

Other terms used in this document carry the meaning accepted for them by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as defined in the International Radio Regulations published by the ITU.

1.6 Mailing Instructions

All submissions concerning applications for the licensing of earth stations in accordance with this procedure shall be addressed to:

Director General
Telecommunication Regulatory Service
Department of Communications
300 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario
KlA 0C8

Forms required during this procedure may be obtained from the above address or from any regional or district office of the Department.

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2. Submission and Processing of Documents: New Stations

The procedure to obtain a licence for the operation of a TVRO earth station on a protected basis consists of completing two phases as outlined and discussed in this section. These are:

Phase One - Letter of Intent
Phase Two - Frequency Assignment Coordination, Notification and Licensing

Applicants are advised to commence this procedure as early as possible in their planning. In determining how far in advance of the proposed date of operation this is required, the applicant should make a reasonable assessment of the amount of domestic and international coordination required. One should allow 3 months each for domestic coordination and departmental administration as well as 6 months for processing by the IFRB. Furthermore, time allowance should be made for engineering design time between phases l and 2. It should also be noted that evidence of approval from the CRTC (see para. 1.2.2) is required before international coordination is initiated.

Earth station operation will be licensed on specific frequencies upon receipt of the appropriate fee and completion of the following phases which may be expedited simultaneously. Licences are issued for a period of up to five years subject to annual payment of fees. When the expiry date of a licence occurs a new licence will be issued provided that the necessary CRTC authorizations and program signal originators approvals remain in effect.

2.1 Phase One - Letter of Intent

The applicant should begin the procedure by submitting a licence application, (Form 16-16, "Application for Licence to Install and Operate a Radio Station in Canada") completed to the extent possible, the applicable licence fee as per TRC 42, and a Letter of Intent containing the information required in Annex B of this document and any other relevant comments pertaining to the application which the applicant might wish to forward. If any of the information required in Annex B is lacking, the applicant will be so advised and the Department will commence processing the information only when the missing elements are received. Where an applicant is proposing similar facilities at more than one site, a single Letter of Intent will suffice provided the differences between specific stations are clearly identified. On examination of the information provided, if the Department finds the proposal acceptable in principle, a letter will be sent to the applicant within fourteen days granting "Acceptability in Principle" and the applicant may proceed with phase two of this procedure. The applicant is advised that any commitments made at this stage for the procurement or deployment of equipment are done at his own risk.

2.2 Phase Two - Frequency Assignment Coordination, Notification and Licensing

Under this phase of the procedure the applicant must first submit to the Department the information required in Annex C of this document.

It should be noted that if an applicant desires protection beyond a carrier to interference level of 28 dB (see para 1.3), justification should be provided and the desired level should be specified. If required the antenna structures form (see para 1.2.4) (form 16-879, "Particulars of Proposed Site and Radio Antenna Structures") will, upon receipt, be forwarded to the Department of Transport (DOT) for their acceptance. If it is not accepted, the applicant will be so advised, and arrangements between DOT and the applicant for an adjustment must be made. Within thirty days of receipt of all the information required in Annex C and of acceptance by DOT, the applicant will be provided with the following:

  1. a statement as to whether or not the domestic coordination which has been carried out by the applicant is acceptable to the Department; and
  2. a statement as to whether international coordination is required.

Subsequent to successful completion of domestic coordination and to the receipt of evidence of CRTC authorization (see para 1.2.2), the Department will proceed, where necessary, with international coordination and subsequently with notification of the frequency assignments to the International Frequency Registration Board (IFRB).

Within fourteen days of the IFRB notification of favorable findings, the Department will issue a Letter of Authorization to the applicant granting authority to operate the earth station and indicating any conditions which apply. The licence will follow in due course.

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3. Submission and Processing of Documents: Modifications to Existing TVRO Earth Stations

A modification to a TVRO earth station is defined as one or both of the following:

  1. any change which requires additional CRTC authorization;
  2. any change in the characteristics of the earth station operation as submitted under Annex C.

Such a modification requires approval from the Department of Communications prior to implementation. The licensee is required to submit details regarding these modifications to the Department, using Annexes B and C for guidance. The Department will examine data submitted to ensure that:

  1. frequency assignment coordination is effected where necessary, to the level required;
  2. approval has been received from the originator of programming signals intended for redistribution has been received; and
  3. authorization to redistribute those signals has been granted by the CRTC.

Upon receipt of this information, the licensee will be advised within thirty days whether the modifications are approved or denied. He will be advised whether further information or action is required.

Issued under the authority of the Minister of Communications

W.A.R. Johnston
Acting Director General
Telecommunication Regulatory Service

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Annex A

Eligibility Criteria

In accordance with statements made by the Minister of Communications and related departmental policies, the following are eligible to apply for licences:

A.1 For operation with Canadian Domestic Satellites

A.1.1 For commercial purposes

  • Telesat Canada
  • Recognized Canadian telecommunications carriers
  • Recognized Canadian broadcasting undertakings

A.1.2 For scientific, experimental or educational purposes

  • Telesat Canada
  • the Department of Communications
  • an educational authority or agency formally established by a province as part of its educational system, for reception from a Canadian domestic satellite of an educational signal originated by a Canadian provincial educational authority or agency
  • others, as deemed eligible by the Minister of Communications

A.1.3 For other purposes

  • the Department will examine each case individually

A.2 For operation with Foreign or Internationally controlled satellites

A.2.1 For commercial purposes

  • Teleglobe Canada
  • Telesat Canada
  • Requests related to other commercial satellite services will be examined by the Department on a case-by-case basis.

A.2.2 For scientific or experimental purposes

  • those deemed eligible on a case-by-case basis following consultation with the Department.

A.2.3 For other purposes

  • the Department will examine each case individually.
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Annex B

Information Required with a Letter of Intent for a Proposed New Installation of a TVRO Earth Station

B.1 Full name and address of the applicant.

B.2 The organizational status of the applicant.

It should be stated whether the applicant is:

  • a corporation
  • a partnership
  • an association
  • a consortium
  • an individual
  • other

B.3 An identification of the Directors and/or officers, indicating:

  • name
  • position
  • postal address of residence
  • nationality

B.4 A statement of the percentage of foreign ownership or control of the applicant.

B.5 The primary business or occupation of the applicant.

Note: Unless changes have occurred since an earlier submission, information required in paras B.2, B.3, B.4 and B.5 may be omitted if it is already on file with the Department.

B.6 A statement indicating whether the earth station will be owned or leased. If the applicant is leasing the earth station to or from another party, the name and address of that party and the details of the agreement between the applicant and that party.

B.7 The location of the proposed facility (including latitude and longitude, if available).

B.8 The proposed frequency band and specific frequencies to be used, and the satellite(s) with which operation will occur.

B.9 A brief description of the broadcasting system(s) which will utilize the output of the proposed facility.

B.10 The type, origin and destination of the information that will be carried on the proposed facility.

B.11 An outline of the relationship of the proposed facility with the short and long range plans of the applicant.

B.12 Any existing facilities, either owned by the applicant or leased from another organization, which will be replaced or supplemented by the proposed facility.

B.13 The relationship of the proposed facility to the applicant's existing or planned satellite or terrestrial facilities on a regional, area-wide, national, or international basis, as applicable.

B.14 Any proposed interconnection with telecommunication facilities not owned by the applicant.

B.15 Formal evidence of the approvals, from the originators of program signals intended for redistribution following reception at a proposed facility, issued either to the applicant or to the client of the applicant who is the proposed distributor of the signals.

Note: For a definition of originator of program signals, see section 1.2.3 of this Procedure. If the approval sought is for a limited period, clearly state the length of the period.

B.16 Evidence that the necessary CRTC authorization for the use of the program signals intended for redistribution has been received either by the applicant or by the client(s) of the applicant to whom the said program signals will be provided, or that application has been made to the CRTC to obtain this authorization.

B.17 A statement from the intended licensee that only authorized signals will be used by the facility, and that the privacy of other signals will be respected.

B.18 Proposed date of operation of the proposed facility in question, and an indication in GMT of the hours of the day of operations.

B.19 The name of the proposed facility.

B.20 Any other information supporting the proposal.

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Annex C

Technical Information Required for Frequency Coordination

C.1 The applicant must either complete and submit to the Department a form 16-879 "Particulars of Proposed Site and Radio Antenna Structures," if required; provide a letter from DOT stating that clearance is not required, or provide shielding details (see para 1.2.4).

C.2 Indicate the space station(s) from which transmissions will be received and indicate the orbital position in degrees of longitude of those space stations.

C.3 Indicate in tabular form the frequency band(s) (i.e. 4 GHz, 12 GHz, etc.) for which coordination is intended for each space station identified in C.2 and the assigned frequencies within each band.

C.4 Indicate in tabular form, for each space station identified in C.2, those assigned frequencies which carry programming that the applicant or his client will distribute; also identify the programming carried on each of these frequencies.

C.5 Indicate the date(s) when reception of the assigned frequencies listed in C.3 will begin.

C.6 Indicate the isotropic gain (dB) of each antenna in the direction of maximum gain for the lowest frequency indicated in C.3, and the antenna diameter if applicable (metres).

C.7 Indicate for each antenna the beamwidth in degrees between the half power points (describe in detail if not symmetrical) for the lowest frequency indicated in C.3.

C.8 Indicate the type of polarization of each antenna. In the case of circular polarization indicate the direction of polarization. In the case of linear polarization indicate the plane of polarization.

C.9 Attach the co-polar and cross-polar radiation diagram of each antenna type proposed (taking as a reference the direction of maximum gain).

C.10 Indicate graphically or in tabular form the elevation angle to the horizon for every five degrees of azimuth around the earth station.

C.11 Indicate the altitude (metres) of the radiation centre of each antenna above mean sea level.

C.12 Indicate in Kelvins the lowest total receiving system noise temperature referred to the output of the receiving antenna of the earth station under "quiet sky conditions". This value shall be indicated for the antenna pointing angle associated with each space station identified in C.2.

C.13 Indicate the manufacturer, type and model number of each antenna, low noise amplifier and receiver.

C.14 Indicate the radio frequency response curve, read at the output of the final IF amplifier stage or beyond, and plotted to the 80 dB attenuation points. The characteristics of rf filters used which are not normally an integral part of the receiver should be given separately.

C.15 Indicate the image rejection ratio and spurious response characteristics.

C.16 Indicate the intermediate frequency(ies).

C.17 Show the received carrier level(s) at the output of each antenna.

C.18 Show the anticipated long-term carrier-to-interference level to be received at the earth station, and include a statement from the intended licensee that these are acceptable levels.

C.19 Show the output signal to noise ratios for 80% and 99.99% of the time. (This information will be assessed by the Department in its consideration of the applicant's request for authorization to distribute the programming signal; see para 1.2.2 of this document and also BP23).

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Annex D

Department of Transport Regional Airways Offices

  1. Regional Superintendent, Airways, C.A.T.A.
    Transport Canada
    739 West Hastings Street
    Vancouver, B.C.
    V6C 1A2

    Tel: (604)-666-3477

    (Pacific Region - British Columbia, excluding the area north and east of a line ten miles west of the Alaska Highway)

  2. Regional Superintendent, Airways, C.A.T.A.
    Transport Canada
    Federal Building
    9820 - 107th Street
    Edmonton, Alberta T5K 1G3

    Tel: (403)-425-6240

    (Western Region - Alberta, the Northwest Territories west of the 110th meridian, Yukon Territory and that part of British Columbia north and east of a line ten miles west of the Alaska Highway)

  3. Regional Superintendent, Airways, C.A.T.A.
    Transport Canada
    125 Garry St.
    P.O. Box 8550
    Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0P6

    Tel: (204)-949-4334

    (Central Region - Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Western Ontario as far east as the 88th meridian and the Northwest Territories lying to the north, more particularly described as follows: That part of Canada bounded by the meridian of 110°W, the Canada-United States border between 110°W and 88°W, the meridian of 88°W between the Canada-United States border and Latitude 60°N, the parallel of 60° North Latitude between 88°W and 80°West, north of 60°N but not including Mansel Island)

  4. Regional Superintendent, Airways, C.A.T.A.
    Transport Canada
    4900 Yonge Street
    Suite 300
    Willowdale, Ontario M2N 6A5

    Tel: (416)-244-3432

    (Ontario Region - Ontario east of 88th meridian)

  5. Regional Superintendent, Airways, C.A.T.A.
    Tel: (514)-636-3252
    Transport Canada
    Regional Administration Building
    Montreal International Airport
    P.O. Box 5000
    Dorval, P.Q. H4Y lB9

    (Quebec Region - Quebec and those parts of the Northwest Territories to the north and east of the Winnipeg Region)

  6. Regional Superintendent, Airways, C.A.T.A.
    Transport Canada
    P.O. Box 42
    Moncton, New Brunswick R1C 8K6<

    Tel: (506)-858-2303

    (Atlantic Region - New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, including Labrador)

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Fig. 1 - 4GHz band protected TVRO antenna pattern requirements

Figure 1

4GHz band protected TVRO antenna pattern requirements

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