Interim Working Arrangement Between the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Communications Relating to the AM Broadcasting Service in the Medium Frequency Band and the Draft Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America Relating to the AM Broadcasting Service in the Band 1605-1705 kHz
Spectrum Management
Terrestrial Broadcasting Agreements and Arrangements
Note
All persons making use of this consolidation are reminded that the documents included herein are provided only for convenience of reference. This consolidation is for the guidance of those engaged in radiocommunications in Canada. The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure accuracy, no warranty is expressed or implied. For more details, please contact the Broadcast Applications Engineering Division.
The agreements and arrangements contained herein have been negotiated under the authority of the Government of Canada by the Department of Communications whose spectrum management and telecommunications programs have been transferred to Industry Canada.
Prepared by:
Industry Canada
Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulatory Branch
300 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0C8
via e-mail: spectrum_pubs@ic.gc.ca
All spectrum publications are now available on the Internet at: http://www.ic.gc.ca/spectrum
Publication Date: June 1997
top of pageInterim Working Arrangement Between the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Communications Relating to the AM Broadcasting Service in the Medium Frequency Band
This document describes a general understanding between the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), USA and the Department of Communications (DOC), Canada, concerning AM broadcasting in the medium frequency band 1605 to 1705 kHz. This understanding is based on discussions between representatives of the two Governments regarding the desirability of the United States and Canada signing an Agreement concerning the use of the 1605-1705 kHz band, ensuing from decisions taken at the International Telecommunication Union Regional Administrative Radio Conference, Rio de Janeiro, June 1988.
A draft text of an Agreement (May 1990 version attached) regarding the mutual use of this band has been developed. At the same time, however, both the DOC and FCC are in the process of reviewing potential improvements to the AM service, both in the existing band and the expanded band. Not wishing to preclude the findings of these studies from influencing any final Agreement governing the use of the AM expanded band, the two Administrations will apply the provisions in the attached draft Agreement as an Interim Working Arrangement.
Both Administrations will coordinate all proposals individually. During such coordinations, the Administrations may, by mutual agreement, modify the applications of provisions of the Interim Working Arrangement (in particular the provisions relating to the required distance for adjacent channel protection).
This Interim Working Arrangement will take effect upon signature by both administrations, and will remain in effect until the entry into force of a binding Agreement covering the use of the 1605-1705 kHz band or until notice of termination is given by either Administration.
_____________
Roy Stewart
Chief, Mass Media Bureau
Date: February 28, 1991
_____________
Michael Binder
Assistant Deputy Minister
Research and Spectrum
Date: December 28, 1990
Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America Relating to the AM Broadcasting Service in the Medium Frequency Band and the Draft Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of The United States of America Relating to the AM Broadcasting Service in The Band 1605-1705 kHz
The Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America desiring to continue their mutual understanding and cooperation in the matter of AM broadcasting, to ensure efficient and equitable utilization of the frequency band 1605 to 1705 kHz allocated to this service, and to ensure compatibility with AM broadcasting stations in the band 1575 to 1605 kHz, have agreed as follows:
Article 1
Definitions
1. For the purpose of the Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings defined below:
1.1 Administrations: The Federal Communications Commission of the United States or the Department of Communications of Canada.
1.2 Agreement: This Instrument and its Annexes.
1.3 Allotment: Entry in the Plan of a broadcasting channel designated for use by an administration for the AM broadcasting service in an allotment area under the conditions specified in the Plan. Each allotment included in the Plan may be used for one or more assignments using the technical criteria specified in Annex 1 to the Agreement.
1.4 Allotment Area: Specifically defined geographical area within a country, to which one or more channels are allotted, as indicated in Part B of the Plan.
1.5 Assignment: Authorization given by an administration for a radio station to use a radio frequency channel under the conditions specified in the agreement.
1.6 IFRB: The International Frequency Registration Board.
1.7 Ottawa 1984 Agreement: Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America Relating to the AM Broadcasting Service in the Medium Frequency Band, Ottawa, 1984.
1.8 Plan: The Allotment Plan in Annex 4 and the associated provisions of the Agreement.
1.9 Priority channel: An allotted channel on which assignments are exempted from compliance with the requirements of Article 6. These are channel 8 (1680 kHz) for the USA and channel 3 (1630 kHz) for Canada.
1.10 Radio Regulations: The Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union.
1.11 Region 2: The geographical area defined in No. 394 of the Radio Regulations (Geneva, 1979).
1.12 Rio 88 Agreement: Regional Agreement for the Use of the Band 1605-1705 kHz in Region 2, Rio de Janeiro, 1988.
1.13 Standardized parameters: The power, antenna system, characteristic field strength and separation distance which were used as a basis in the development of the allotment Plan (see Section 1, Annex 2).
Article 2
Frequency Bands and Services
2.1 The provisions of the Agreement shall be applied to the broadcasting service in the frequency band 1605-1705 kHz. They shall also be applied to ensure compatibility between broadcasting stations in the above-noted band and in the 1575-1605 kHz band segment.
2.2 The 1605-1705 kHz band shall be used exclusively for the AM broadcasting service. However, existing non-broadcast stations in the 1605-1705 kHz band may continue to operate only on the basis of not causing interference to and not receiving protection from broadcasting stations. These conditions also apply to existing U.S. travellers information stations operating on 1610 kHz which do not comply with the provision of Section 5.2.2 of Article 5. Interference from the above stations shall be deemed to occur when a complain is notified by one of the administrations. Also, future travellers information stations may operate on a non-interference no-protection basis.
Article 3
Adoption of the Plan
3.1 The Plan was developed based upon standardized parameters given in Annex 2. The Plan appears in Annex 4 to the Agreement.
3.2 Broadcasting station assignments shall be brought into service only when in conformity with the Plan and under the conditions specified in the Agreement.
Article 4
Procedure for Modification of the Plan
4.1 By mutual agreement of the two administrations, allotment channels and areas may be modified.
4.2 In accordance with the Rio 88 Agreement, the administrations shall inform the IFRB of the agreed changes.
Article 5
Implementation of the Plan, Procedures for the Notification of Frequency Assignments
5.1 Implementation of the Plan
An administration may at any time:
5.1.1 Make assignments corresponding to any of its allotments, at one or more locations within the respective allotment area, with characteristics which do not exceed the standardized parameters given in Section 1 of Annex 2.
5.1.2 Make assignments corresponding to any of its allotments, at one or more locations within the respective allotment area, with non-standardized parameters, provided that the limits specified in Section 3 of Annex 2 are not exceeded. If they are exceeded, the agreement of the other administration shall be obtained.
5.1.3 Make assignments corresponding to any of its allotments at one or more locations which do not meet the adjacent channel criteria of Section 2 of Annex 2, relative to an adjacent channel allotment of another administration, subject to the application of the procedure contained in Article 6.
5.1.4 Make an assignment to a station located anywhere in its territory on any channel not allotted to it in the area concerned, provided that the limits specified in Section 4 of Annex 2 are not exceeded. If they are exceeded, the agreement of the other administration shall be obtained.
5.2 Notification of Assignments
Wherever an administration intends to bring into use an assignment to a station of the broadcasting service in conformity with this Agreement, it shall notify the data specified in Annex 3 to the other administration, first ensuring that:
5.2.1 with assignments corresponding to allotted channels,
5.2.1.1 for a station using non-standardized parameters, the field strength at any point in an allotment area in which the same channel is allotted to the other administration does not exceed the limits specified in Section 3 of Annex 2.
5.2.1.2 when the station does not meet the criteria of Section 2 of Annex 2 relative to an adjacent channel allotment of the other administration, the coordination procedure contained in Article 6 has been applied.
5.2.2 with assignments on non-allotted channels,
the field strength at any location of an allotment area to which the same channel is allotted does not exceed the limits specified in Section 4 of Annex 2.
Article 6
Procedure for the Coordination of Broadcasting Stations Which Do Not Meet the Adjacent Channel Criteria of Section 2, Annex 2
6.1 An administration proposing to bring into use an assignment on its own priority channel is exempt from the requirements of this Article.
6.2 An administration proposing to bring into use an assignment which does not meet the criteria in Section 2 of Annex 2, relative to an adjacent channel allotment of the other administration, shall seek the latter's agreement.
6.3 The administration proposing to bring the assignment into use shall send the information listed in Annex 3 of the Agreement. If the receiving administration's adjacent channel allotment is a priority channel, that administration may object to the proposed assignment on the basis that its use of that priority channel may be unduly restricted. In such cases, the procedure in Section 6.6 through 6.8 below does not apply.
6.4 The date on which the other administration receives the copy of the request for agreement shall be considered as the date of commencement of this procedure.
6.5 The administration receiving this information shall examine it with a view to ensuring that the use of its adjacent channel allotment would not be adversely affected.
6.6 Upon receipt of a request for agreement, the administration that receives the request shall examine the matter and shall, within 90 days:
- either give its agreement to the proposed use, or
- communicate the characteristics of its existing or planned assignments (representing current or future applications) that may affect the proposed assignment or be affected by it, and if possible suggest means by which both needs may be accommodated, in which case an additional 30 days to respond will be allowed.
6.7 If, following the period specified in Section 6.6, the proposing administration has received no reply, the administration which has received the request will be deemed to have given its agreement, either with standardized parameters or with non-standardized parameters, provided that the proposed station does not cause any more interference than a station operating on the border with standardized parameters.
6.8 If agreement is not reached with nine months of the initial date of receipt, all the stations concerned, except those which were previously agreed to, may be permitted to operate only with characteristics not exceeding the standardized parameters in the direction of the other country. Under these circumstances both administrations shall be deemed to accept any interference that may result from the simultaneous operation of their stations. If interference to an assignment has already been accepted by application of this procedure, interference should be (or if the station is operating, shall be) confined to the area already subject to interference. By mutual agreement the nine-month period may be extended for a fixed period of time depending on the progress being made.
Article 7
Requirements to Ensure Compatibility Between Broadcasting Assignments and Allotments in the Adjacent Bands 1575-1605 kHz and 1605-1705 kHz
7.1 Proposed assignments on 1610 or 1620 kHz shall provide protection to assignments on 1590 and 1600 kHz using the technical criteria of the Ottawa 1984 Agreement.
7.2 Proposed assignments on 1590 or 1600 kHz shall provide protection to assignments on 1610 and 1620 kHz using the technical criteria of this Agreement.
7.3 Proposed assignments on 1590 or 1600 kHz shall also be subject to the adjacent channel co-ordination procedure in Article 6 of this Agreement with respect to allotments on 1610 and 1620 kHz.
7.4 The 25 mV/m contour of proposed assignments on 1580 to 1630 kHz shall not overlap the 25 mV/m contour of another assignment in that range whose frequency is separated by 30 kHz or less.
7.5 Field strength calculations shall be based on Graph 19 in the Ottawa 1984 Agreement for assignments on 1580 to 1600 kHz and on Figure v2.1 in this Agreement for assignments on 1610 to 1630 kHz.
Article 8
Groundwave Field Strength Measurements
8.1 The technical criteria contained in the Agreement provide for protection from groundwave interference through the use of theoretical calculations based on the values of ground conductivity referred to in Chapter 2 of Annex 1. Nevertheless, it is recognized that in some situations such calculations may not properly reflect actual conditions where the conductivity along a specific path differs from the value shown on the conductivity map.
8.2 Therefore, field strength measurements made within a station's own country, in accordance with Appendix 2 to Annex 1, may be employed in these situations to justify an assignment based on measured conductivity values.
8.3 If a station whose parameters were accepted on the basis of measurements submitted in accordance with this Article is found to cause interference within the range of azimuths covered by the data submitted, then that station shall reduce its radiation in the pertinent directions to the levels permitted by calculations using the conductivity map, or to such levels as may be mutually agreed upon by both Administrations.
8.4 Resolution of interference complaints
8.4.1 When a station believes that it is experiencing objectionable interference above the level previously accepted from a station in the other country, it shall inform its own Administration. After verification, the interference complaint shall be referred to the other administration. The station believed to be the cause of the interference shall be required immediately to verify its authorized operation (including measuring field strength at permanent monitoring points if appropriate) and make any adjustments necessary to resume its authorize operation. The station shall, within 10 days of receipt of the complaint, advise its Administration of the action taken. The responsible Administration shall immediately advise its counterpart of the station's status including corrective measures taken. If, after completion of the above steps, the complaining station is still experiencing objectionable interference above the level previously accepted anywhere within its protected contour, field strength measurements shall be taken in accordance with Appendix 2 to Annex 1.
8.4.2 The Administration responsible for the complaining station shall review the field strength measurement data and, if satisfied that it is well founded, shall forward the complaint to the other Administration. If that Administration is not satisfied that the complaint is valid, it shall advise the other Administration of the reasons therefor, in order to facilitate discussions. If the Administration which receives the complaint is satisfied that it is valid on the basis of the referred data, it shall:
- evaluate the measurement data as promptly as possible, but in no event later than 20 days after receipt;
- forward the measurement data to the station causing the interference;
- notify the station to take any necessary action to eliminate the interference or to prove that it is operating as authorized. The station shall comply as soon as possible within a time period not to exceed 30 days;
- if necessary corrective action has not been taken within 30 days, order the interfering station to reduce its power at once by any amount necessary, including cessation of operation, to eliminate the interference;
- refuse authority to resume normal operation until the necessary action specified in (c) and (d) above has been taken.
8.4.3 Since actual ground conductivities over specific paths may vary from the values indicated in the Atlas of Ground Conductivity identified in Chapter 2 of Annex 1, interference may be experienced even if the station causing the interference is operating in accordance with notified parameters. In such circumstances, except as noted in Section 8.3, no action will be required as long as the station can demonstrate that is is operating as authorized. However, each Administration shall endeavour, in cooperation with the other, to mitigate such interference.
Article 9
Amendment of the Annexes
Except for modifications to the Plan, which are governed by Article 4, the Annexes hereto may be amended by exchange of letters directly between the administrations. The adoption of such amendments shall be notified to the Department of External Affairs of Canada and the Department of State of the United States of America by the Administration of each country.
Article 10
Denunciation of the Agreement
10.1 Either country may denounce the Agreement at any time by a notification sent to the other country.
10.2 Denunciation shall become effective one year after the date on which the other country receives the notification of denunciation.
Article 11
Entry into Force of the Agreement
The Agreement shall enter into force on [1 July 1990] at 0001 hours UTC.
- Date modified:
