Internal Guidelines for DTV Transition

The regional and district offices of Industry Canada are involved in two important aspects of processing of all applications: Site evaluation and on-air testing. The present streamlining proposals are applicable only to DTV conversion and are not intended to be applicable to other types of broadcasting applications.

Site evaluation: This may involve visiting the proposed site in order to evaluate the environmental impact of the application and to conduct analysis of human exposure to radio-frequency energy. The input of the regional offices on these aspects is needed before the application is approved by the Department and referred to the CRTC.

On-air testing: Authority for on-air testing and duration is issued by the district offices of the Department. Although the Departmental technical regulations (BPRs) have no specific requirements concerning the testing of the technical facilities, some regional offices may decide to conduct measurements of the various technical parameters of the facilities to verify compliance with the provisions of the application. It should be noted that the Regional offices manage the process of on-air testing but the actual testing and assessment of compliance are the responsibility of the broadcasters. A final technical certificate is issued by the Department following successful on-air testing of the facilities.

Streamline site evaluation:

No site evaluation would be necessary (no environmental impact and no HIFIELD studies) when the application of DTV conversion is based on:

• Using the current NTSC channel of the station;
• Using the antenna of the NTSC facility;
• Using the antenna tower/structure where the NTSC facility is located;
• An ERP that is at least 60% lower than the ERP of the NTSC station;
• An antenna height equal to the height of the NTSC antenna.

These conditions ensure that the new DTV installations will have less impact on the environment/human exposure than the analog installations that it replaces.

Partial streamlining could be considered if the above conditions are met except for the limit on the ERP, in which case only a HIFIELD analysis may be required.

Streamline on-air testing:

On-air testing is to be limited to monitoring/tracking possible complaints from the viewing/listening public and other users of the spectrum. Measurements of the actual transmitting parameters of the facilities such as compliance with the RF mask, ERP, should only be conducted in response to specific complaint of interference.

It is to be noted that in cases where predictions of human exposure to RF energy exceed 50% of the safety standard, the engineering consultant is responsible for measurements and compliance with Safety Code 6. Measurements are to be done during the on-air testing of the station.

The proposal to streamline site evaluation is peculiar to DTV conversion. The practice does not apply to DTV and other broadcast applications that cannot benefit from the 5 conditions outlined above.

On-air Testing

When the construction of the authorized facilities is complete, notice of on-air testing can be given to Industry Canada's District Manager at least one week prior to transmission tests. This is acceptable even when the letter of authority issued by the Department specifies least three weeks notice.

Broadcasters do not need to make announcements of the call sign, the channel and the location of the station during the on-air testing period.