Sharing Arrangement between the Department of Industry of Canada and the Federal Communications Commission of the United States of America Concerning the use of the Frequency Bands 1850 to 1915 MHz and 1920 to 1995 MHz by the Personal Communications Services along the Canada-United States Border
TRAA
Spectrum Management and Telecommunications
Terrestrial Radiocommunication Agreements and Arrangements
Note
The technical and operational requirements described in this draft Arrangement allow for the coordination and sharing of the bands 1850 to 1915 MHz and 1920 to 1925 MHz along the Canada–United States border. The Department of Industry of Canada and the Federal Communications Commission of the United States of America (the "Agencies") may use the technical criteria outlined in this draft Arrangement on a provisional basis for the processing of coordination requests or the issuing of licences within their respective authorities prior to final adoption of this Arrangement. This draft Arrangement is not binding on the Agencies and is subject to review and possible modification prior to being formally adopted. Consequently, licensees are advised that all stations deployed under this draft Arrangement are subject to compliance with the final provisions, as formally adopted between Canada and the United States.
Prepared by:
Industry Canada
Spectrum Engineering Branch
300 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0C8
E-mail: spectrum_pubs@ic.gc.ca
All spectrum publications are available on the Internet at http://www.ic.gc.ca/spectrum.
Publication Date: May 2008
Arrangement H
Sharing Arrangement between the Department of Industry of Canada and the Federal Communications Commission of the United States of America Concerning the use of the Frequency Bands 1850 to 1915 MHz and 1920 to 1995 MHz by the Personal Communications Services along the Canada–United States Border
1. Scope
1.1 This Arrangement between the Department of Industry of Canada (Industry Canada) and the Federal Communications Commission of the United States of America (FCC), herein referred to as the "Agencies", covers the sharing and coordination of frequency spectrum for the establishment and operation of personal communications services (PCS) or similar services in the 1850–1915 MHz and 1920–1995 MHz bands along the Canada-United States border.
1.2 This Arrangement is subject to review at any time at the request of either Agency, the U.S. Department of State or the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada.
2. PCS Use of the Band
2.1 Both Agencies shall share the 1850–1915 MHz and 1920–1995 MHz frequency bands on an equal basis along the border and, to the maximum extent possible, both Agencies shall have full use of those frequencies or sub-bands identified for the provision of PCS or similar services within their respective countries.
3. Existing Microwave Use of the Band
3.1 After the entry into force of this Arrangement, both Agencies shall limit and discourage additional use of the 1850–1915 MHz and 1920–1995 MHz frequency bands for fixed point-to-point microwave operations to the maximum extent possible.
3.2 After the entry into force of this Arrangement, both Agencies shall not license any new use of the 1920–1930 MHz band (which has been designated for unlicensed PCS use in the United States and licence-exempt PCS use in Canada) for fixed point-to-point microwave operations.
4. Coordination of PCS with Fixed Microwave Operations
4.1 Each Agency agrees that it will only authorize new PCS or other similar services on the basis that harmful interference is not caused to existing fixed point-to-point microwave operations authorized by the other Agency.
4.2 The Agencies shall require all PCS systems located within 120 km (75 miles) of the border to coordinate with existing fixed point-to-point microwave stations. Such coordination shall be based on:
4.2.1 guidelines for applying the interference protection criteria for fixed stations as specified in the Telecommunications Industry Association's Telecommunications Systems Bulletin TSB10: "Interference Criteria for Microwave Systems," as amended from time to time; or
4.2.2 other procedures that are acceptable to the PCS and fixed microwave licensees.
4.3 In the event that there is interference to an existing fixed point-to-point microwave operation from any PCS operation located beyond 120 km (75 miles) from the border, both Agencies agree to take appropriate steps to resolve such interference.
5. Coordination between Licensed PCS Operations
5.1 Both Agencies agree that the following or a similar clause shall appear on all authorization documents for PCS base station facilities within 72 km (45 miles) of the border:
"This authorization is subject to the condition that, in the event that systems using the same frequencies as granted herein are authorized in an adjacent foreign territory (Canada/United States), future coordination of any base station transmitters within 72 km (45 miles) of the United States-Canada border shall be required to eliminate any harmful interference to operations in the adjacent foreign territory and to ensure continuance of equal access to the frequencies by both countries."
5.2 Both Agencies agree that the predicted or measured median field strength of any PCS base station located in one country shall not exceed 47 dBµV/m at any location at or beyond the United States–Canada border in the other country unless both the affected PCS operators in adjacent areas and the Agencies agree to a higher value.
5.3 Both Agencies agree that compatible independent operation of PCS systems on either side of the border shall be best assured through coordination of pertinent system operating and technical parameters by PCS operators. The Agencies shall require that the PCS operators carry out such coordination and notify both the FCC and Industry Canada within a reasonable period of time when an agreement is reached or when a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached. The Agencies may also require that any agreements reached by PCS operators be subject to review by the Agencies.
