Minutes of the Technical Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (B‑TAC) — Final Minutes of the Meeting Held on January 30, 2007

Attendees of the First meeting of 2007 Technical Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (B-TAC)

Present were:

  • V. Mimis, Chairperson
    Director, Broadcast Planning and Technical Policy
  • A. Lam, Secretary
    Broadcast Standards and Procedures

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

  • S. Lamarre
    Delivery Technology
  • P. Marcoux
    Delivery Technology

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

  • J. Gallant
    Broadcast Technology
  • M. Daigle

Broadcasters and Consultants

  • P. Labarre
    Pierre Labarre & Associates Ltd.
  • D. Macaulay
    D. H. Macaulay Engineering
  • W. Stacey 
    CAB/Wayne A. Stacey & Associates
  • K. Nesbitt
    Rogers Media
  • J. Feltmate
    Consultant
  • B. Dormer
    Consultant
  • J. Moltner
    TEKNYX
  • A. Lubienietzky
    Consultant
  • M. Mathieu
    Consultant
  • J. Hoeppner
    Corus Entertainment Inc.
  • M. Beauséjour
    YRH Inc.
  • J. Sadoun
    YRH Inc.
  • B. Sawyer
    YRH Inc.
  • G. Henke
    DEM Allan & Associates
  • Kerry Pelser
    DEM Allan & Associates
  • D. Chan
    DEM Allan & Associates
  • T. Young
    Consultant
  • E. Bogdanowicz
    Bogdanowicz Consulting Eng. Inc.

Industry Canada

  • J. Dadourian
    Broadcast Standards and Procedures
  • D. MacMillan
    Broadcast Planning and New Technology
  • L. Toll
    Broadcast Planning
  • J-M Boilard
    Broadcast Regulation
  • P. Vaccani
    Director, Broadcast Application Engineering
  • J. Dexter
    Broadcast Application Engineering
  • L. Chong
    Broadcast Application Engineering
  • A. Youness
    Broadcast Application Engineering
  • K. Le
    Broadcast Application Engineering
  • D. Richard
    Broadcast Application Engineering
  • M. Dumas
    Broadcast Application Engineering
  • A. Rasno
    EMC
  • A. Leduc
    Broadcast Automated Systems
  • S. Faucher
    Engineering, Quebec Region

1. Chairman's Opening Remarks

Mr. Mimis welcomed the members to this first meeting of 2007 and opened the meeting. He said that since the last meeting, the CRTC had issued its Public Notice on Radio. As well, various subcommittees had met and their chairmen would be reporting on their work progress under 'Status Report'.

2. Approval of Agenda

Mr. Mimis suggested that Agenda items 5.3 – CRTC updates be brought forward as item 5.1 and Digital TV/DRB and BPR updates be renumbered as 5.2 and 5.3. This was accepted by the members. Mr. Stacey suggested that 'FM modulator interference' should be included under 'Matters arising from the Minutes' for further discussion. Mr. Henke proposed adding 'Remote reporting of FM transmitter frequency' as item 7.1 for discussion. The above amendments were approved by the members.

3. Draft minutes of the third meeting of 2006

The following editorial changes were made to the draft minutes.

5.1 under DRB

'A brief discussion...before any finding were known.'

was amended to: 

'A brief discussion...before any findings were known.'

5.1 under FM-IBOC Presentation

'... although some interference to CBLS-FM-1 had been observed.'

was changed to:

'...although some interference to CBLA-FM-1 had been observed.'

5.4

'Mr. Vaccani reported that...e-application with...'

was changed to: 

'Mr. Vaccani reported that...e-applications with...'

The minutes were approved as amended.

4. Matters Arising from the Minutes

Nav/Com Program – Mr. Lam reported that the new Nav/Com program had been released for sale and a seminar on the new program would be held tomorrow (January 31, 2007) in Room 1031-A, 255 Albert Street, Ottawa.

Standby Site Information – Mr. Leduc said that this information would be placed on the Department's database, although currently outstanding, this item would be part of the Department's work plan.

Terms of Reference (FM 2nd Channel Co-Location) – Mr. Dexter said that subcommittee 16 had discussed this subject and decided that no change to the current rule was required.

FM Modulator Interference – Mr. Rasno said that these devices were regulated under RSS-210 which contained two interference limits. He pointed out that the second higher limit was placed in at the time for a specific application. He said that the Department was planning to do measurements and await the test results from the CBC before considering whether a change to RSS-210 would be required. He indicated that the matter would be further discussed at the RABC subcommittees. Mr. Nesbitt said that some devices on the market in Canada would not even meet the existing RSS-210 limits. Mr. Mimis replied that the Department would only investigate such instances on complaint basis and would notify the distributor concerning compliance requirements. Mr. Nesbitt suggested that this type of interference would be difficult to ascertain because of its mobile nature. Mr. Stacey added that the greatest concern of this type of interference would be its potential impact on broadcasting as the use of FM modulators spread beyond satellite receivers and into a wider variety of audio devices.

Mr. Mimis took the opportunity to report on events at the last CITEL meeting. He said that the AM-IBOC report was well received by the members. However, neither Mexico nor Ibiquity representatives were present at the meeting. Brazil, which chaired the Broadcasting Committee meeting, indicated that Brazil was also planning to conduct IBOC measurements and would present the results at future meetings. Mr. Mimis suggested that Canada should also table the FM-IBOC test results at the next CITEL meeting (April 2007). He indicated that the Department may conduct more IBOC measurements through CRC in light of the CRTC's decision to license IBOC application provided that Industry Canada had the technical rules in place for such systems.

5. Status Report

5.1 CRTC Updates

Mr. Daigle reported that the Commission had issued PN CRTC-2006-159 (Revised Policy on radio application for small markets) and PN CRTC-2006-160 (Digital Radio Policy) on December 15, 2006. He highlighted some major elements of the Digital Radio Policy, e.g. a new service model for L-band DRB, programming exception to encourage innovation and cross ownership of digital and analog radio undertakings, etc. On the subject of IBOC, Mr. Daigle suggested that the Commission would consider applications re: AM and FM IBOC and other technology for digital radio if the Department had approved such systems for use in Canada. A public hearing would be held in Calgary in the week of February 12 for new TV undertakings in Calgary and Edmonton. As well, a public hearing for new FM radio for Sudbury had been tentatively scheduled for March 26 in Gatineau. Mr. Daigle informed the members that new application forms such as technical amendments etc. were now available on the CRTC website. To clarify on the issue of the transmitter site suitability requirement, Mr. Daigle said that the Commission would not require a complete site assessment and its purpose would be to forestall site/building problems further down the application process. A brief discussion followed on possible future development in DRB technologies and their effects on the Digital Radio Policy. Mr. Mimis added that the Department was considering all of these issues and he would welcome views and opinions from the members on the subject.

5.2 Digital TV/DRB

Mr. Dadourian said that Canada had fallen further behind the United States in DTV implementation plan and some rethinking on market forces to promote DTV may be required. To this end, the Department had sent a letter to the CRTC last September notifying it of the Department's intention to restrict the certification of new NTSC TV except for those in the core spectrum range of the DTV allotment Plan starting in January 2007. In summary, Mr. Dadourian indicated that there would be no more certification for TV application in the channel 52–69 range except for DTV simulcast. In addition, existing assignments in operation would not be allowed to change technical parameters which could increase coverage, e.g. increased power/height etc. Mr. Dadourian added that applications submitted before January 1, 2007 would be exempted from the new rules. Ms. Lamarre requested that in cases of such important rules change, both the CBC and CAB be notified. Mr. Dadourian briefly mentioned a novel digital system for mobile DTV application – essentially, a robust low bit stream SRS (Supplementary Reference Sequence) signal in the data portion of the TV signal for low resolution mobile application. The system had generated a lot of interest and indeed was demonstrated at the last CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas. He also indicated that the CRC would do further testing on the system. Mr. Marcoux commented that because of the high redundancy requirement, the system would not be as spectrally efficient as some other mobile systems.

5.3 BPR Updates

Mr. Mimis said that the overall BPR updates were still waiting for the release of the antenna policy. In the meantime, however, the EMCAB issue had to be addressed. He suggested that rather than waiting for the update of all the BPRs, the EMCAB issue could be addressed separately, e.g. posting a statement at the Department's website announcing the EMCAB requirement for all broadcasting. Mr. Boilard added that the antenna policy release would likely be delayed. However, other updates in the BPRs were ongoing, e.g. BPR-3 updates would reflect recommendations from subcommittee 16. Other documents being reviewed included BETS-7, which would be extended to include digital equipment, etc. A brief discussion followed on the EMCAB issue and it was agreed that a Gazette notice to adopt the EMCAB standard for broadcasting to cover all the BPRs would be a good option to resolve the issue.

5.4 Subcom 15 (Govt-on-line)

Mr. Vaccani reported on the progress of the SIRR project (Spectrum Informatic Review and Redesign) which could last until 2009. Its goal would be to update the spectrum management system, starting with the non-broadcasting systems and then the broadcasting systems. When completed, there would only be one database for broadcasting. A subcommittee had been set up to study its impact on our current modules and operation. One other area which the Department had been working on was the updating of all TV and Radio service and interference contours, with the intention of making them available online. He also referred to the tabled document TAC-07-02, which outlined a guide for submitting broadcast applications online.

5.5 Subcom 17 (Post DTV Transition Issues)

Mr. Dadourian reported that the DTV Plans were exchanged with the FCC in November and that the Department had been studying the U.S. Plan, and so far, there appeared to be of little problem. He expected that the first draft of the US/Canada Agreement to be available in March 2007. Any remaining problem cases could be resolved by September to produce a final Agreement.

Mr. Mimis added that the new Agreement would replace the existing TV Agreement and would cover both the analog and DTV services. He cautioned the members that the actual signing of the Agreement may take some time since the Department would need an order-in-council to sign the agreement and the FCC would also need an approval from the State Department to negotiate and sign the Agreement.

Mr. Henke suggested that the Department should publish the final allotment Plan as soon as possible. Mr. Mimis replied that this would be done at the appropriate time and in the meantime, members could contact the Department for information regarding allotment issues, etc.

5.6 Subcom 16

Mr. Dexter tabled document TAC-07-01, which presented a work report of subcommittee 16 since the last meeting. He said that the two following issues had been resolved.

  1. Protection of under-utilized allotments: – the rule for the protection of the incumbent station to increase to maximum parameters would be revised. The Department would issue a notice gazetting the change and all stations would have a period of three years from the date of the Gazette notice to implement changes to increase parameters. After this period, the revised rule would come into effect. Members debated on the implementation time frame some argued that the three years protection time frame was too long whilst others suggested that it may be insufficient in some cases. In the end, members accepted the three years as a compromise.
  2. Notification to short-spaced stations: – the present rule requiring notification of all short-spacings regardless of any interference potential would be changed. It was agreed that short-space notification should only be required if the actual (not maximum) interfering contour fell within a given buffer distance of the protected contour of an incumbent station.

Buffer distance of 15 km for co-channel, 10 km for first adjacent and 5 km for second adjacent were agreed upon. It was also noted that should the applicant meet the criteria and choose not to notify, a note to this effect should be included in the technical brief.

Mr. Dexter also reiterated that the 2nd adjacent channel co-location issue was discussed with the resolution that no changes were warranted.

Mr. Dexter indicated that the subcommittee would be studying the 3rd/4th adjacent criteria which may be amended if necessary.

5.7 Subcom 19 (PI Codes)

Mr. Vaccani said that the CBC had developed a program to generate PI Codes with the call-signs of the stations. He said that the subcommittee recommended the option of posting the CBC program on the Department's website with instruction for users to generate their own PI Codes. This recommendation was approved by the members.

5.8 Subcom 20 (Consumer information)

Mr. Mimis informed the members that CDTV consumer information had been placed on the Department's consumer site and Mr. Boilard presented a power-point demonstration on how to access the site. Mr. Mimis added that the information would be updated when required and the frequency of access to the site by users would also be monitored for statistical information.

6. Informatics

Mr. Leduc reminded the members that there would be a NavCom seminar tomorrow (January 31, 2007) to detail the workings of the new program. With regard to the issue of coordinates, Mr. Leduc indicated that the Department would be converting and using the NAD 83 system for all facilities (radiocom and broadcasting). He said that all users of these data would be informed of the change, e.g. the CRTC, the FCC and Transport Canada etc. Mr. Stacey suggested that new system would still contain many errors since the Department currently could not be certain as to the accuracy of the existing data. He suggested that if the Department really required a high degree of accuracy for site coordinates, this could likely be accomplished if licensees were required to verify the coordinates of their facilities. Ms. Lamarre suggested that this could be achieved by requiring broadcasters to re-file the transmitter location on renewed applications. Mr. Mimis commented that the conversion of the data should still go ahead (NAD 27 to NAD 83) despite some errors, and the Department should require the broadcasters to provide accurate locations on renewed applications. Mr. Bogdanowicz suggested that the Department should specify that GPS measurements be taken by knowledgeable personnel.

7. Other Business

7.1 Remote reporting of FM Transmitter Frequency

Mr. Henke raised this issue for discussion. He pointed out that different Regions/Districts where interpreting the rule differently as outlined in BETS-6. He also said that modern transmitters would automatically shut down if the frequency deviated by more than a few hundred Hz thereby making BETS-6 rule unnecessary. Mr. Mimis suggested that the rule in BETS-6 should be retained; however, all Regions/Districts should maintain the same practice for compliance of the rule. Mr. Henke suggested that the Department look into this issue for a solution.

8. Date of Next Meeting

The date of the next meeting has been tentatively scheduled for Monday, June 4, 2007.

(The date of the next meeting has subsequently been changed to Monday, June 18, 2007.)

Information on Downloading a PDF Reader
To access the Portable Document Format (PDF) version you must have a PDF reader installed. If you do not already have such a reader, there are numerous PDF readers available for free download or for purchase on the Internet: