Big three telecoms respond to ISED consultations

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has released responses to its consultation on use of white space spectrum to service rural and remote communities. White space spectrum is spectrum not deployed by the licensee. The department heard from three governments, 27 industry groups, 21 organizations and two individuals. ISED posed 49 questions about deployment and received over 700 pages of responses. In its filing BCE Inc. pointed to a statement in the department's consultation document that "some wireless providers have expressed the view that insufficient access to spectrum to support wireless broadband is impeding the expansion and improvement of services for consumers and businesses." "Based on this unattributed assertion," Bell wrote, "ISED is proposing to impose an entirely new Access Licensing Framework where existing licensees may have portions of their licences expropriated and given to other service providers. ISED’s proposal essentially creates a new condition of licence for deployment in Tier 5 service areas half-way through the current licence term for all Cellular and Personal Communication Services (PCS) spectrum licences. ISED has never before raised this deployment requirement with existing licensees.” Bell and Rogers Communications Inc. support the department’s suggestion that it issue licences for a three-year term. Telus Corp. opposed the move. “Three years is too long of a period to wait for an initial assessment of meeting deployment requirements,” the western incumbent wrote. It suggested licenses be limited to a one-year term instead. ISED also offered two options to limit the number of licence access spectrum applications. The first option was for 20 per applicant per 12-month period while the second would see five per applicant at the opening of the access licence process for each tranche. Rogers and Bell supported the second option, although Rogers expressed no reason not to proceed with the first option. Telus did not endorse either option. Telus promoted a “use it or lose it” approach to spectrum deployment. “‘Use it or lose it’ is a means to an end, not an end in and of itself. It is meant to motivate network building to rapidly connect all Canadians to high-speed internet by 2030 and, if that fails, allow others willing to invest to deploy unused spectrum without interfering with the primary licence. To this end Telus supports the introduction of access licensing by ISED, but is concerned about the current proposal,” the company said. Bell, for its part, said there was insufficient evidence a new access licensing framework is required. Rogers was also dubious. “Rogers is very supportive of the renewed efforts by all spectrum stakeholders to: facilitate the deployment and timely availability of services across the country, including rural and remote regions; foster investment and the evolution of wireless networks; and, support sustained competition so that Canadian consumers and businesses benefit from greater choice and competitive prices,” the firm stated. “However, the proposed Access Licensing regime is likely to be a net negative for wireless policy in rural and remote areas of Canada.” At this week's Canadian Telecom Summit, Telus repeatedly criticized government spectrum policy, while the company is also suing the government over its decision to approve Quebecor Inc.'s eligibility for set-aside spectrum in the 3,500 MHz auction. --Reporting by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca and editing by Michael Lee-Murphy at mleemurphy@thewirereport.ca

Big three telecoms respond to ISED consultations

News | November 18, 2021

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Big three telecoms respond to ISED consultations

News | November 18, 2021

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