CACTUS Submits Comments to Industry Canada 600 MgHz Spectrum Auction Consultation

February 15th was the dead-line to submit comments to Industry Canada regarding its proposal to align its television spectrum usage plans with those of the US.

At issue is the US' plans to offer financial compensation to US television broadcasters to vacate channels between the low 30s and 58 to make way for data-rich mobile applications (aka video distribution via cellular technology). Industry Canada was seeking comment from Canadians regarding how closely Canada should align its own spectrum usage with those of the US.

The proposed spectrum auction will follow closely on the heels of last year's auction of the 700 MgHz band, in which former TV channels above 60 were auctioned off for use by wireless providers.

In its submission to Industry Canada, CACTUS prioritized:

• maintaining access to bandwidth by local authorities, and not allowing it all to be auctioned for private use.
• over-the-air broadcasting, because of the local control over content that over-the-air towers offer communities
• creating incentives for broadcasters to multiplex using digital technologies, to ensure that bandwidth is used efficiently, and there are always available over-the-air frequencies for new television services to use, including community television services
• community broadcasters as generators of unique local and Canadian content
• compensating broadcasters for the cost of moving to a lower channel assignment from the auction (i.e. incoming wireless providers should compensate outgoing TV broadcasters)
• using some of the proceeds of the spectrum auction to develop digital literacy at the community level

You can read CACTUS' full submission here.