Spectrum Management and Telecommunications

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BPR-1 - General Rules

Issue 5
January 2009

Spectrum Management and Telecommunications
Broadcasting Procedures and Rules

Broadcasting Procedures and Rules

The Radiocommunication Act stipulates that no radio apparatus that forms part of a broadcasting undertaking may be installed or operated without a broadcasting certificate issued by the Minister of Industry. Pursuant to paragraphs 5(1)(a) and (d) of the Radiocommunication Act, the Minister is empowered to fix the terms and conditions of the broadcasting certificate and to establish technical requirements and standards in relation to broadcasting undertakings.

This document prescribes the required information for filing applications for broadcasting certificates and specifies the technical standards and requirements, as well as the operational terms and conditions applicable to broadcasting undertakings. The Broadcasting Procedures and Rules consist of nine parts: Part 1 entitled General Rules sets out the technical requirements and application procedures common to all broadcasting undertakings. Parts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 set forth the specific requirements applicable to AM, FM, TV, digital radio broadcasting (DRB), multipoint distribution television broadcasting (MDS), digital television (DTV), broadcasting receiving (cable TV) and terrestrial S-DARS undertakings respectively.

The content of these documents notwithstanding, Industry Canada may authorize certain minor departures from the standards and operational requirements specified herein when it is shown that the quality of service will not be compromised and that harmful interference will not occur.

Contents

Broadcasting Procedures and Rules - Part I: General Rules
(PDF, 118 KB, 30 pages)

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1. Application Procedure and Subsequent Action

1.1 Preamble

This section establishes the procedure to be followed in preparing and submitting the information required in support of applications for broadcasting undertakings.

1.2 Preparation of the Submission by Qualified Personnel

1.2.1 The planning and the design of new broadcasting undertakings or of changes to existing systems, as well as the preparation of engineering briefs submitted in support of applications for such designs or design changes, constitute the practice of professional engineering. It is the responsibility of the person signing the submission to comply with the appropriate provincial legislation, insofar as the practice of professional engineering is concerned. Industry Canada requires that the design of a proposed system and/or a proposed changes to an existing system be carried out under the responsible supervision of a professional engineer who shall certify as to the adequacy of the design by affixing his/her signature and stamp to the engineering brief when this brief is sent to the Department in paper format. A signed electronic version of the engineering brief, in PDF format, can also be sent to the Department with the application.

1.2.2 When submitting an application to Industry Canada electronically, the applicant shall use the following e-mail address: DBCE-APPS@ic.gc.ca.

The following documentation shall be included:

  • the appropriate application forms, which can be obtained from the Department's website at http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/h_sf01700.html#broadcasting;
  • the electronic brief (PDF format) including any required maps prepared in accordance with BPR-1 and any other relevant BPR;
  • contours (MapInfo format: *.DAT/*.ID/*.MAP/*.TAB or GIS format: *.MIF,*.MID) (see section 3.4);
  • form (in PDF format) IC-3052B entitled Commitment Form.

It is the responsibility of the applicant submitting the application to ensure that all electronic documents submitted have the necessary signatures.

The Department reserves the right to request a signed attestation to verify the authenticity of an application and may hold the processing of the application until a satisfactory attestation has been received.

1.2.3 Where low-power broadcasting undertakings, other than low-power DRB undertakings, are concerned, the Department may, in specific circumstances, waive its requirement that the technical submissions be prepared by broadcasting engineering consultants provided that qualified technical staff prepare and sign the submission.

1.2.4 All technical submissions for DRB shall be prepared by a broadcast engineering consultant.

1.3 Application Processing

1.3.1 The application to the Department for a broadcasting certificate shall be accompanied by an application to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for a broadcasting licence. If no CRTC application is received within 30 days, the technical application will be returned to the applicant. This does not apply to terrestrial S-DARS and MDS undertakings that have been authorized by the CRTC or to applications meeting CRTC exemption criteria.

1.3.2 If the submission is found to be missing information, incomplete or incorrect, the applicant and/or consultant will be so notified and the CRTC will be advised accordingly. If the necessary information is not supplied within a period of time specified in the departmental letter (normally 30 to 45 days), the application will be returned.

1.3.3 Although the CRTC has established criteria to exempt certain categories of AM, FM, TV and cable systems from the requirements of CRTC licensing, the Department, for spectrum management reasons, maintains separate exemption criteria based on equipment standards. CRTC licence-exempt broadcasting/receiving undertakings must still meet the relevant BPRs, and must obtain radio authorizations in the form of broadcasting certificates to operate unless these undertakings also meet the applicable Industry Canada exemption criteria.

Industry Canada exemption criteria for broadcasting and receiving undertakings - the Broadcasting Certificate Exempt Radio Apparatus List - are available on the Department's website at http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/h_sf06128.html.

1.4 Application for Call Signs

1.4.1 The application for a call sign for a new broadcasting undertaking shall be made in writing at the time of the application for the broadcasting certificate. To request a change of call sign for existing undertakings, an application is to be made in writing to the Department.

1.4.2 For each program in a DRB undertaking, the applicant shall request a call sign.

1.4.3 A listing of unassigned basic call signs is available on the Department's website at http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/sp_dgse-ps_dggs.nsf/eng/gg00026.html.

The rules pertaining to call signs are contained in Section 7, Assignment and Identification Requirements for AM, FM, TV and DRB Broadcasting Undertakings.

1.5 On-Air Approval

Overview

On-air testing assures that the broadcasting undertaking will operate in accordance with the authorized technical brief and the issued letter of authority (LOA), and that the required protection is being given to broadcasting undertakings and radio systems, especially those involved with safety-of-life: aeronautical navigational and communications (NAV/COM) systems.

1.5.1 Following approval by the CRTC (where applicable) and authorization by Industry Canada and before the start of construction, any changes to the approved proposal (e.g. site, parameters, equipment etc.) shall be submitted to the Department for authorization. The Department's District Manager shall be kept informed of the progress of construction.

1.5.2 Departmental permission is required for on-air testing. When the construction is complete, notice of on-air testing shall be given to the District Manager at least three weeks (unless otherwise specified in the letter of authority) prior to transmission tests.

1.5.3 The normal period for on-air testing is four weeks, three being the minimum. If interference or other problems materialize, this period may be extended pending satisfactory resolution of the problems. Barring problems, on-air testing will terminate after four weeks.

1.5.4 Immediately following successful on-air tests, the applicant's consultant shall certify to the Department that the broadcasting undertaking is ready to commence operation in accordance with the approved technical submission and request permission to commence operation. For AM broadcasting undertakings, the certification shall be supported by a Preliminary or Final Proof of Performance (except for low-power broadcasting undertakings). Failure to meet these requirements shall terminate the on-air tests.

1.6 Broadcasting Allotment Plans

1.6.1 Industry Canada maintains allotment plans and related information for AM, FM and TV, along with information on assignments, on the departmental website at http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/sp_dgse-ps_dggs.nsf/eng/gg00026.html.

For the DRB and DTV Allotment Plans, please see Industry Canada's website at http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/h_sf06074.html.

1.6.2 The Department, in its role as spectrum manager, may make changes to the Canadian Broadcasting Allotment Plans, based on technical considerations. Please note that a broadcasting certificate shall not be construed as conferring any right to continued tenure in respect of the channel assigned to the broadcasting undertaking.

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2. Antenna-Supporting Structure and Siting Considerations

Applicants proposing to erect a new antenna structure or to modify an existing structure must comply with the requirements set out in the Client Procedures Circular, Radiocommunication and Broadcasting Antenna Systems (CPC-2-0-03), as may be amended, which is available on the Department's website at http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf08777.html.

2.1 Land-Use and Public Consultation

Unless the broadcasting proposal is excluded from land-use and public consultations (see CPC-2-0-03 for details), the following applies:

2.1.1 For applications already approved by the CRTC or meeting the CRTC exemption criteria, the broadcasting applicant shall proceed immediately to public and municipal/land-use consultation as described in CPC-2-0-03. As for other applications, they are subject to CRTC licensing processes in addition to Industry Canada requirements. Although Industry Canada encourages the applicants to consult as early as practical in the application process, it may not be prudent in some cases for the applicants to initiate public and municipal/land-use consultation before receiving CRTC approval, as application denial by the CRTC would result in unnecessary work for all parties involved.

Accordingly, the broadcasting applicants may opt to commence public and land-use consultation after having received CRTC approval. However, broadcasting applicants choosing this option are required, at the time of the CRTC application, to notify the land-use authority by a Letter of Intent (see Appendix 3) with a commitment to conduct consultation after receiving the CRTC approval. A copy of the Letter of Intent shall be sent to Industry Canada. If the land-use authority raises concerns with the proposal as described in the Letter of Intent, the applicant is encouraged to engage in discussions with the land-use authority regarding those concerns and attempt to resolve any issues.

2.1.2 The Department's technical acceptability will be subject to successful completion of the consultation process and the Department's Letter of Authority will be sent only when the Department has been informed that the consultation process as per CPC-2-0-03 is completed successfully.

2.2 Structural Adequacy of Antenna-Supporting Structures

To ensure structural adequacy, the Department recommends that all antenna towers and antenna-supporting structures be designed, manufactured and erected in accordance with accepted Canadian standards and that a qualified structural engineer be retained by the applicant.

2.3 Availability and Suitability of the Land

In addition to the sharing requirements set out in CPC-2-0-03, applicants should also consider such matters as availability of power and communication facilities at the proposed site, year-round accessibility to technical staff and environmental constraints or provisions for rezoning that could have a bearing on the establishment of the broadcasting undertaking at that location.

2.4 Exposure to Radio Frequency (RF) Energy

Applicants must ensure that their facilities are designed and operated to meet the requirements set out by Health Canada's guidelines entitled Limits of Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields in the Frequency Range from 3 kHz to 300 GHz - Safety Code 6, to assure protection of the general public. To this end, in addition to the requirements of CPC-2-0-03 on this matter, the engineering brief submitted in support of an application for a broadcasting certificate shall contain an analysis of the RF exposure levels produced by the new or modified transmitting facility. Details of the RF exposure evaluation procedure are given in Section 8 of this document.

2.5 Immunity-type Interference

Broadcast receivers and associated equipment, as well as radio-sensitive equipment in proximity of a broadcast transmitting site can experience immunity-type interference. Broadcasters are to ensure that their installations are designed and operated in such a way that such interference is minimized to the extent possible. The departmental document EMCAB-2 has defined field strength levels that can be used as a guideline in making determinations for these types of interference situations. BPR-2 through BPR-9 address this issue in more detail.

2.6 Other Factors Affecting Site Selection

Each service has specific factors that may affect site selection, for example, strong adjacent channel signals, intermodulation, interference to other services, proximity to nearby structures, etc. Refer to the service specific BPR for more information.

2.7 Broadcasters' Responsibility

Applicants are required to consider the population that may be affected by the types of interference described in sections 2.5 and 2.6. Furthermore, if there is the potential for large developments in the area, the impact on future residents should also be considered. Broadcasters are responsible for solving certain interference problems in the vicinity of their installations. Refer to BPR-2 to BPR-9 for details.

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3. Preparation of Coverage and Frequency Re-use Contour (FRC) Maps

The engineering briefs in support of applications for new broadcasting undertakings or for changes in facilities of existing undertakings shall include service contours as prescribed under the relevant broadcasting application procedure. These service contours shall be submitted either on paper - contour maps - or electronic format. For contour maps, reproducible maps shall also be included with the application, as prescribed in this section. The service contours submitted electronically shall also be produced as prescribed in this section.

The maps, in either paper or electronic format, are used by the Department for its technical evaluation of the proposal and are reproduced for circulation to broadcasting consultants, the CRTC, the broadcasting industry and other interested agencies.

3.1 Preparation of Contour Maps

A reproducible copy of each contour map required shall be prepared in the standard format size i.e. 37 cm × 28 cm (14½" × 11"). Contour maps in electronic format should have all features clearly legible when printed in the standard format size.

3.1.1 The following is a summary of the requirements:

(a) geographical coordinate information shall appear on at least two adjacent edges of maps supplied;

(b) a dimensional scale shall also be clearly shown;

(c) antenna location shall be plotted and marked with a cross with geographical coordinates clearly indicated as illustrated in the example below:

Antenna Location

51° 51' 51" N.

+

99° 30' 45" W.

(d) all contours shall be clearly labelled. The preferred technique is to place labels along the contour lines, thereby avoiding arrows;

(e) a title block, of dimensions 11.5 cm × 9.5 cm (4½" × 3¾"), shall be preferably placed in the lower right-hand corner. It should contain sufficient information to identify the proposal. A stamp by a professional engineer should be placed beside the title block. An acceptable block is illustrated below:

Name of Broadcasting Engineer Consultant ____________

Applicant's Name
Proposed location of undertaking
Call Sign

Parameters of Proposed Operation (freq. or channel; average e.r.p.; class; mode of operation, etc.)

Date Map Prepared     Signature or Initials

(f) in cases of proposed changes in facilities, a map showing comparative contours shall be submitted (see Section 3.3(b) ).

3.2 Notes

(a) For most contour representations, Natural Resources Canada (Surveys and Mapping Branch) maps shall normally be used in the submission with a scale consistent with the extent of the contour and the format required. However, should more up-to-date official provincial government maps be available, these may be used when, for instance, there is a particular significance in determining the latest metropolitan area limits.

(b) Reproducible prints of computer-generated contour maps are also acceptable. It is possible to generate contour maps with a computer using a Geographical Information System (GIS) software together with a GIS database (i.e. a standardized digitized geographical base map).

The GIS database used, whether it is a vector or raster-type base map, must have the resolution and the level of detail of a 1:1,000,000 scale map as a minimum for contour maps. For site location maps, a scale of 1:50,000 is required. If the GIS database used does not have this resolution, Natural Resources Canada maps or other types as referred in (a) are required.

The computer generated maps must have a representation, in terms of the level of detail (or layers) and colour scheme, comparable to the Natural Resources Canada maps referred in (a), and must be in accordance with the other requirements of Section 3 of this document. The scale must be consistent with the extent of the contour and the format required.

(c) All map reproductions supplied shall be clear in all details ensuring that significant information is not hidden by labelling.

3.3 Reproducible Map Requirements

Reproducible maps are not applicable to low-power and very low-power broadcasting applications. For all other applications, the following reproducible maps are required:

  1. maps bearing the title block and the engineering stamp defined in Section 3.1.1(e), and the required service contours (consult the relevant BPR for the applicable field strengths);
  2. in case of change in facilities, one additional "comparative contours" map, showing the authorized and proposed service contours.

3.4 Electronic Submission of Service Contours

MapInfo is the geographical information infrastructure adopted by Industry Canada to process broadcasting engineering briefs for broadcasting undertakings. Engineering briefs that use the electronic format for the service contours will need to comply with the MapInfo file infrastructure (see Section 3.4.2).

3.4.1 Support for the Data Submitted

The service contours shall be submitted on a compact disc or diskette.

3.4.2 Contour Data

3.4.2.1 Geographical Projection

The latitude-longitude geographical projection shall be used and the datum NAD83 must be specified. The Department no longer supports datum NAD27, and will only consider NAD27 if it is justified and warranted by special circumstances.

3.4.2.2 Service Contours

Service contours shall be defined using at least one point at every 5 degrees starting at 0 degrees True North. For directional patterns, more points must be added to properly define the nulls and the shape of the directionality in the pattern. For interference contours, the level of detail needed with regard to the points used shall be similar to the service contour. All contours must define a closed region, thus covering 360 degrees.

3.4.3 Files to Submit

3.4.3.1 MapInfo Users

The following file types must be used in submitting contour information, with one set per service contour:

*.DAT
*.ID
*.MAP
*.TAB

The * symbol represents the name given to the file.

3.4.3.2 For Users of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Software Packages Other than MapInfo

When choosing a GIS software package, make certain that it can export its output to the MapInfo Interchange Format (MIF) and that it can generate the needed file types *.MID and *.MIF, with one set of these files per service contour.

3.4.4 Naming Convention for the Files Submitted

The following structure shall be used to name each file submitted:

application identifier + underscore + contour type

Application identifier: a string of 12 characters maximum

Contour type: depends on the service; the examples given hereinafter illustrate the symbolism to use. For AM, follow the contour value with the appropriate D, N or NL letters (Day, Night or Night Limit).

The following table of examples illustrates the use of this naming convention. The application identifier used here for demonstration purposes is the usual " * " symbol.

Type of Application Contour Type Naming Under MapInfo Naming Under Other GIS
Contour Symbol
FM 500 μV/m 5 *_05.dat, *_05.id, *_05.map, *_05.tab *_05.mid *_05.mif
  3 mV/m 3 *_3.dat, *_3.id, *_3.map, *_3.tab *_3.mid *_3.mif
TV Grade A A *_A.dat, *_A.id, *_A.map, *_A.tab *_A.mid *_A.mif
  Grade B B *_B.dat, *_B.id, *_B.map, *_B.tab *_B.mid *_B.mif
DTV DSC DSC *_DSC.dat, *_DSC.id, *_DSC.map, *_DSC.tab *_DSC.mid *_DSC .mif
  DLC DLC *_DLC .dat, *_DLC .id, *_DLC .map, *_DLC .tab *_DLC .mid *_DLC .mif
AM Daytime
0.5 mV/m		 05D *_05D.dat, *_05D.id, *_05D.map, *_05D.tab *_05D.mid *_05D.mif
  Night Limit
mV/m		 NL *_NL.dat, *_NL.id, *_NL.map *_NL.tab *_NL.mid *_NL.mif
DRB FRC F *_F.dat, *_F.id, *_F.map, *_F.tab *_F.mid *_F.mif
  DSA D *_D.dat, *_D.id, *_D.map, *_D.tab *_D.mid *_D.mif
MDS Service contour MDS *_MDS.dat, *_MDS.id, *_MDS.map, *_MDS.tab *_MDS.mid *_MDS.mif

Realistic or terrain limited contours should append an 'R' to the end of a symbol, e.g. *_AR for a realistic Grade A contour.

The following contour type should be used for interference areas for any type of application:

contour type = channel + class + city of the interfering station.

Each interference area should be located in a separate set of files.

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4. AM, FM or TV Proposals Predicated on Release of Assigned Broadcasting Frequencies or on Changes to Existing Broadcasting Facilities

4.1 Occasionally, it may appear expedient to file an application for a broadcasting undertaking predicated on a frequency which is not yet available, but is expected to become so as a result of a change of frequency or other changes at existing facilities.

4.2 The Department may accept an application for a broadcasting certificate based on the above situation. However, technical acceptability will be conditional on the release of the frequency or on the implementation of the change in facilities at the existing undertaking. Should this application be approved by the CRTC (where applicable), the implementation of the undertaking may not be affected until the frequency has actually been vacated or facilities changed. In order to minimize problems, coordination between all parties is encouraged. The cooperation of all parties is required for the approval of the application.

4.3 Under no circumstances will a proposal involving interference be considered unless agreement has been reached with the parties involved.

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