Morris Bodnar Director, Compliance and Interior Offices Tel: (250) Fax: (250) Pilot Implementation of New Resource Road Radio Channels

October 2004June 12, 2007 History of Resource Road Frequencies Started out with few multi-channel radios in the 70s and early 80s Resource road users didn’t change areas as much Letters of permission were needed for each road frequency

October 2004June 12, 2007 History...continued Late 80s saw introduction 16, 32 and then 99 channel radios Increasing demand for resource road frequencies User programmable radios an issue

October 2004June 12, 2007 Why is Change Needed? Too many different radio frequencies are used on BC resource roads Frequencies are not exclusive to resource road users  interference to safety services and other licenced users Confusion over the process to legitimize (licence) and need to advise Industry Canada what frequencies are in use, and where

October 2004June 12, 2007 What is the Solution? Industry Canada will assemble a block of radio frequencies for exclusive resource road and loading/unloading use New frequencies will be cleared for resource industry use province wide Standardized labelling will be used to reduce confusion and improve safety

October 2004June 12, 2007 What is the Current Status? Industry Canada has selected frequencies for exclusive resource road and loading use Industry Canada and its provincial partners are moving forward with pilot implementation in Vancouver Island/Sunshine Coast & Tumbler Ridge 14 new radio frequencies have been identified for use in the two pilot areas

October 2004June 12, 2007 Pilot Channel Overview Frequencies vs. Channels –Frequency: portion of electromagnetic spectrum in which radio waves travel –Channel: portion of electromagnetic spectrum with specific: 1)labels, 2) purposes, and 3) technical parameters

October 2004June 12, 2007 Channel Overview... continued Two new labels; RR = Resource Road LD = Loading/unloading Tone coded squelch is utilized –Masks non-desired transmissions and noise –Enables shorter re-use distances Channels are low power, 5 watts maximum –Lower power will reduce “walk-over”

October 2004June 12, 2007 Channel Overview... continued Channels are narrow band –Two way radios approved under Radio Standard Specification 119, issue 5 (1997) or later are all compliant Why narrow band? –Limited availability of radio spectrum –Necessity for wide area usage (i.e. BC wide) –US coordination considerations

October 2004June 12, 2007 IC’s Narrow Banding Strategy Initially announced October 1998 All users issued written two-year non- standard notifications in January 2002 All VHF wide band became non-standard and subject to displacement January 2004 Industry Canada’s ability to accommodate wide band usages is diminishing

October 2004June 12, 2007 The Bottom Line... Check with your Radio Equipment Supplier to see if your two way radio(s) are narrow band capable Utilizing narrow band channels is the only way Industry Canada could locate and designate new resource channels Many radio systems have already migrated to narrow band or have plans to do so

October 2004June 12, 2007 Displacements Many radio communication systems will be displaced to make way for wide area resource channels Industry Canada has the challenge of identifying new frequencies for displaced systems Displaced systems will also need to migrate to narrow band operations

October 2004June 12, 2007 Conditions for Users New resource channels are specified narrow band with a maximum transmitter power of 5 watts and employ tone coded squelch –*With tones, a channel that sounds clear may in fact be in use Channels must only be used in locations where specifically posted. Improper usage will result in harmful interference to other resource usages, or priority spectrum users

October 2004June 12, 2007 Conditions... continued New resource channels will only be posted for use in the Vancouver Island/Sunshine Coast and Tumbler Ridge pilot areas –*Under no circumstance may channels be used outside of the posted locations Two way radios using resource channels require a mobile radio licence Amateur, marine or user programmable radios are not permitted

October 2004June 12, 2007 In Summary New resource channels are being introduced for road and loading/unloading New resource channels have specific technical parameters for use Radio operators must only use resource channels where posted or radio systems will suffer from interference and safety will be compromised

October 2004June 12, 2007 Questions? Contact Industry Canada at