The Impact of Canadian Digital Television Transition Plans on 700 MHz Public Safety Communications

1. The Impact of Canadian Digital Television Transition Plans on 700 MHz Public Safety Communications- New York State's Analysis of the Transition Plan, Recommendations, and Progress to Date Sean O’Hara Syracuse Research Corporation Canadian RABC Meetings March 7, 2001 Ottawa, Ontario

2. Overview • Background and Summary of Concerns • The 700 MHz release and Canadian and U.S. DTV transition plans • The spectral needs of Public Safety and Commercial interests • New York’s Proposed Approach to Band Alignment • Roadmap, and associated U.S. and Canadian tradeoffs • Initial Solution Offering • Basic methodology and initial geographic concentration • Results, and comparison to the current plan • Recommendation for “The Next Steps” • Discussions, clarification, negotiation, and agreement • Completion of re-allotment process • Additional Progress to Date • Political support, Public Safety support, End-user support • Formation of stakeholder networks and working groups

3. Background and Summary of Concerns

4. The U.S. 700 MHz Release • Historically, usage of the 700 MHz Band has been limited to TV Broadcast operations (60-69). • In the U.S., Under the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, this spectrum was re-allocated for: • Public Safety Usage (24 MHz) • Driven by PSWAC • Commercial Auction (36 MHz) • Mandated by Congress • Proceeds to be in the Treasury by 2001 • The “mechanism” chosen to clear the band was the transition to Digital Television (DTV).

5. Television Channels 700 MHz Band Layout

6. Current Canadian Digital Television Plan • The FCC did a fair job of leaving the 700 MHz band free of DTV allotments in the U.S. • However, this came at a high cost • Canada was not included in the transitions plans • Canada has not left the 700 MHz band “clear” • It is interested in the alignment of commercial and public safety bands • But it was highly constrained when making its allotments • Bottom Line: • Canada has a lot of 700 MHz Canadian DTV allotments within their transition plan

7. CLASS PROTECTED (NTSC-based)CONTOUR “VL” (VHF Low) 89 km (55 mi.) “VU” (VHF High) 82 km (51 mi.) “C” (UHF-C) 70 km (43 mi.) “B” (UHF-B) 45 km (28 mi.) “A” (UHF-A) 25 km (16 mi.) “LP” (Low Power) 12 km ( 7 mi.) Canadian TV Station Classes

8. • Class VL The worst effects are seen in Toronto,Ottawa, Montreal, and the entire New York border area • Class VU • Class A, B, or C Canadian DTV Allotments within Channels 60-69

9. Impact of DTV Allotments • New York performed a detailed study to determine the impact that the current allotments will have upon the usage of the 700 MHz public safety spectrum. • The impact upon commercial spectrum usage will be similar. • In fact, the DTV allotments will tend to have a greater effect on the commercial services • Although the New York area is highlighted here, many other areas are affected. • New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Washington, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, etc

10. NTSC30 - DTV64 - CIVO-TV, Hull NTSC62 - DTV69 - CJNT-TV, Montreal Interference Effects Co-channel at Towers

11. 700 MHz Usability • The current Canadian Digital Television (DTV) Transition Allotment Plan is not harmonized with the U.S. DTV plan. • Without harmonization, operations within the new Public Safety and Commercial bands will be secondary to DTV Broadcast Services • This is a serious issue for Canada. • No access to 700 MHz • This is a serious issue for states bordering Canada. • Especially in the Northeast United States

12. Public Safety Spectral Needs (1) • In 1996, a Congressionally mandated study (PSWAC) concluded that: • by 2001 approximately 25 MHz of new public safety spectrum will be required • by 2011, as much as 70 MHz of ADDITIONAL spectrum will be required to satisfy the communication needs of the public safety community.

13. Public Safety Spectral Needs (2) • We are at the 5 year demand projections and moving toward the 15 year projections • Yet the only relief offered is the 700 MHz spectrum! • Canadian Public Safety is also starting to feel the effects of spectrum congestion and scarcity

14. Public Safety Needs (3) • Many States and Provinces are embarking on large multi-agency radio system projects. • Local, State, and Federal agencies on the same system • This offers a level of interoperability that had never before been achievable. • However, the capacity/spectral needs are very high • The 700 MHz band is the only option. • Canadian Public Safety will benefit from 700 MHz alignment • Advanced functionality offered by 700 MHz equipment • Cross border interoperability • Leveraging the U.S. market • Lowered equipment costs • “Built-in” interoperability (mandatory for U.S. 700 MHz) • Availability of wideband public safety spectrum

15. Commercial Wireless Needs • Over the next decade, a clear location for advanced wireless services is at 700 MHz. • Limiting the growth and access to these services will only be detrimental to local, state and national economies. • Technology breeds commerce - especially communications technology. • Note impact of internet • Strong potential within high tourism areas

16. What Commercial 700 MHz Services Can We Expect? • Modern 3G Cellular/Wireless Applications. • Wideband Wireless Mobile Data • Whatever the Demand Drives • There is a lot of demand for wireless internet/mobile high data rate “pipes” • The handset market could get a “kick-start” from these new services

17. 700 MHz Commercial Band Plan 700 MHz Band Public Safety Allocations

18. $ $ Total Minimum Bids for 10-MHz Block Pairs is $ 480 M !! Total Minimum Bids for 5-MHz Block Pairs is $ 240 M !! Minimum Bids for All Pairs is $ 720 M !! The U.S. Commercial Spectrum has recently been estimated by FCC Chairman Kennard as being worth $ 80 Billion !!! EAG Licenses, Bandwidths, and Minimum Bids

19. Why are we Interested in Commercial Spectrum? • Public Safety and Commercial Providers have similar interests • Both want the incumbent analog television stations to move to digital - quickly • Commercial providers will help out here • Both do not want 700 MHz DTV allocations • You can’t make money off of $pectrum that you can’t u$e.

20. 700 MHz : Conclusion • 700 MHz systems and services in Canada, and much of the U.S.-Canadian Border area will be unusable if the international regulatory rules do not get coordinated. • The overall impact extends far beyond the border area - due to network planning. • Further discussions and negotiations are required to resolve these issues.

21. A Recommended Approach

22. Background: • A draft copy of the U.S./Canadian Letter of Understanding (LoU) inadvertently become public in early 2000 • Based on the wording of paragraph # 12 of the LoU, NO Consideration was given to protecting LMR and Commercial 700 MHz spectrum in Canada or along the U.S. border. • Unlike the U.S. plan, Canada allotted DTV channels to active primary class TV stations, secondary class TV stations, and many vacant allotments. • We ramped up our efforts to help find a solution

23. U.S. and Canadian DTV Transition • We quickly realized the following: • The U.S. DTV Transition is well underway • at least 147 Stations in 52 markets • 64% of U.S. households with signal coverage • The Canadian DTV Transition is not as far along • only 1 transmitter (a test transmitter) • recently released 8/16 VSB coverage study • Changes to the U.S. plan are impractical • Therefore, the only available option is to try to make changes to the Canadian plan

24. DTV on Commercial Allocations (and adjacent channel to Public Safety) DTV on Public Safety Allocations (and adjacent channel to Commercial) Canadian DTV Allocations in Channels 60-69

25. Reshuffling the Canadian Plan: • It was soon clear that a large portion of the Canadian plan would likely need to be re-allotted. • Not a trivial task • But, preliminary investigations and analyses indicated that a successful plan could be created. • However, we needed to reconsider alternative criteria for allotments • What trade-offs can be made to reach the final objective? • What is feasible?

26. Roadmap to a Solution • Lets examine the Canadian region that is most populated with broadcast TV services • The area in the vicinity of the N.Y. border • For the full power stations within this region: • 46% of the Canadian allotments are for stations not currently in operation. • If allotting only operational stations, almost half of the spectrum can be reclaimed • This is the way the FCC allocated DTV allotments in the U.S.

27. Stations for “Region I “ (NYS Area): -Previously Allotted by IC

28. Stations for “Region I “(NYS Area): - Reasonable Basis for Re-Allotment

29. Point Canada will need to give up spectrum dedicated to TV broadcast “growth” Counterpoint Little near-term growth is expected Growth accommodated after transition Canadian Tradeoffs Pros • 24 MHz of PS spectrum • Commercial spectrum & auction revenue$ • Advanced 700 MHz services Cons • Broadcasters may oppose • Long delays in re-allocation may delay DTV transition

30. Point “Doing this this will delay the U.S. DTV transition, as well as the availability of the public safety spectrum” Counterpoint No need for delays No changes to U.S. Plan There is U.S. border DTV on the air right now U.S. Tradeoffs Pros • 700 MHz cleared for all • Increased commercial auction revenue$ • Advanced technologies and services for all Cons • Broadcasters will likely oppose • Will require the LOU with Canada to be amended

31. Roadmap: Conclusions • The hardest region to clear the 700 MHz band from DTV allotments is the area near the NY/Canadian border • This is due to the heavy population of both citizens and television services within this region • If we allot DTV channels to only the stations currently offering full-power broadcast services within this region, then almost half of the spectrum can be reclaimed • We recover 45% of spectrum • Only 14% of the allotted stations are within 60-69 • This STRONGLY implied that the DTV plan can be re-allotted without impinging into channels 60-69.

32. Initial Solution Offering

33. Basic Re-Allotment Methodology • Generated DTV allotments only for stations that are: • Currently operational • of Full Power Class • Constrained the introduced interference by considering the following: • Canadian Analog Broadcast Services • U.S. Analog Broadcast Services • U.S. Digital Television Broadcast Services • Other services (e.g. Radio Astronomy)

34. NTSC Constraints Considered

35. U.S. DTV Constraints Considered

36. Initial Concentration • The initial solution focused upon the most difficult area to “fix” • The New York Border Region and immediately surrounding areas • Because of the distribution of Canadian broadcast services, a successful re-allocation there strongly indicated that it could be done throughout Canada.

37. Highest Regions ofRe-Allotment Constraints

38. “Packing” of Canadian Region I Constraints

39. Initial Re-Allotment Plan • Within a couple months, we generated an attractive alternative DTV plan • Offered less instances of short-spacing • Used lesser degrees of short-spacing • DTV-DTV Co-Channel - “Even” • DTV-NTSC Co-Channel - “Better” • DTV-DTV Adj-Channel - “Much Better” • DTV-NTSC Adj-Channel - “Much Better” • Reduced Adjacent Co-locations (DTV: 20 -> 0) • AND Cleared the 700 MHz Band Allocations

40. “Best” Regions Proposed plan is much better for adjacent channel separation And is equal or better for co-channel separation Detailed Comparison to Current Canadian Plan

41. Region I Re-Allotments

42. Is the Offered Plan a Hard Sell? • Why not re-allot the DTV plan? • With the offered plan: • Canada will gain 60 MHz of spectrum • Canadian public safety will get spectral relief & more • Canadian government can generate revenue$ through spectrum auction$ • Canada gains access to advanced 700 MHz services • The U.S. public safety users will be happy • The U.S. commercial interests will be happy • Everybody Wins! • Broadcasters even get less interference

43. The Next Steps

44. Recommendations • Canadian and U.S. Discussions • Further Clarification of Stakeholder Concerns • Negotiation and Agreement • Continuation and Completion of the Re-Allotment Process

45. Progress to Date (1) • Have had many meetings with the FCC • Have prepared and presented a report on the issue • Have developed an initial working relationship with the commission (IB, WTB, and OET) • IB and WTB - Coordinate on regulatory issues • OET and WTB - Coordinate on engineering issues • Have been able to get verbiage included into the U.S./Canadian LoU on DTV - signed 9/22/00 • Allows for work to continue toward clearing the band • Demonstrates U.S. and Canadian commitment to the process

46. Inclusion of Verbiage into the The U.S.-Canadian Letter of Understanding Regarding DTV Services Some television stations have been provided DTV allotments in spectrum that the U.S. plans to recover for non-broadcast use, including commercial mobile and public safety operations, following the transition to DTV (i.e., channels 52-69). Canada is also considering a similar change in spectrum use. Accordingly, the LOU provides that both Administrations will continue to review the allotment tables and to try to accommodate such stations.The FCC and Industry Canada are also working towards a future agreement that will specifically address non-broadcast services in these bands. Until such a separate agreement is reached, the LOU provides that non-broadcast services in these bands must protect DTV and analog TV stations. (emphasis added) Excerpt of press release by the The Commission: September 29, 2000 http://www.fcc.gov/ib/pnd/agree/lou0929nr.pdf

47. Progress to Date (2) • Have gotten political forces on-board • Letter to FCC Chairman Kennard and President Clinton signed by five governors. • Have formed a support network of public safety agencies, organizations & users. • Online web forum with support resources • 60+ Members and growing • U.S. and Canadian Public Safety Agencies • Other States (MA,ME,MI,VT,CT,WA, and others) • Equipment Vendors and commercial providers. • Have helped to “move things along”

48. Recent Events

49. Public Safety • Francine Boucher - RCMP Spectral Affairs • (from the RABC meetings in November) ... The Public Safety subcommittee (of the RABC) is planning to meet in January/February to look at this issue. • This forum will allow most players concerned with this issue to meet around the table • The Channels 60-69 were discussed at some length at the last and previous meetings of the RABC. • Industry Canada is well aware of the various parties interests • There appears to be some flexibility and willingness from the Department at looking for solutions to accommodate public safety during the transitional period to DTV.

50. Public Safety • Francine Boucher - RCMP (cont.) • Industry Canada has announced that it will release a public consultation that would include this topic in 1Q01. • which the public safety community intends to participate actively. • APCO Canada • Recently becoming more actively involved • Currently requesting more information • Still getting feedback from others in Canada • OPP, other APCO Canada, etc • Formed a partnership with APCO and NPSTC (U.S.)