Selection process of Canadian telecommunications service providers

The Canadian Department of Communications uses a comparative selection process for radio frequency spectrum assignment and licensing. The process is used when foreseen immediate demand exceeds the availability of spectrum, this often occurs with the introduction of new telecommunications services. It is effective in meeting the Department's spectrum management responsibilities of radio frequency assignment, radio station license issuance and responding to the demands of the public. The public land-mobile telecommunications services that were introduced utilizing the process are: cellular mobile radiotelephone (1983), 400 MHz and 800 MHz mobile radio trunked systems (1983), 900 MHz nation-wide paging (1989 and 1991), air-ground radiotelephone (1992), and public digital cordless telephone (1992). This paper reviews the Canadian legislative context in which the process operates, the current comparative selection process, and factors that influence the process.