Broadcasting Certifications (original) (raw)

Types of broadcasting certificates

There are different scenarios for which you must certify your broadcasting undertaking through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), depending on your need and the nature of use.

To learn more, select the broadcasting certificate you are interested in:

FM

Learn more and apply for an FM broadcasting certificate if you want to operate a regular power or low-power broadcasting station in the FM band.

Analog TV

Learn more or modify an existing analog TV broadcasting certificate for your analog television station.

AM

Learn more and apply for an AM broadcasting certificate if you want to operate a regular power or low-power broadcasting station in the AM band.

Terrestrial S-DARS

Learn more and apply for a broadcasting certificate for terrestrial satellite digital audio radio service (S-DARS) if you want to add a terrestrial repeater in an area not being covered by the S-DARS satellite service.

DTV

Learn more and apply for a DTV broadcasting certificate if you want to operate a digital television (DTV) station.

Exemptions from broadcasting certificates

Some approved transmitters are exempt from an ISED broadcasting certificate. For example:

• low-power announcement radios or real estate radios/talking signs, used to advertise a property or other event (considered broadcasting, but very short distances from the transmitter)
  • see BETS-1 — Technical Standards and Requirements for Low Power Announce Transmitters in the Frequency Bands 525-1,705 kHz and 88-107.5 MHz
• personal FM transmitters, commonly used to play audio from a portable device on AM or FM radio (not considered broadcasting, as it is intended for personal devices, within an ultra-short-range)
  • see RSS-210 — Licence-Exempt Radio Apparatus: Category I Equipment

Find out more at: Exemptions

Your obligations as a broadcasting certificate holder

Holding a broadcasting certificate means you have certain rights and privileges regarding your certificate. It also means you have certain obligations. Some of these are specific to the certificate and will be listed on it, such as compliance with radio frequency exposure limits (see section 7.1 of CPC-2-0-03 — Radiocommunication and Broadcasting Antenna Systems).

Find out more at: Compliance information for licence and certificate holders

Fees

There are no fees for broadcasting certificates issued by ISED, but fees may be required for a CRTC broadcasting licence. Consult the CRTC’s Licences web page for more information.

Note:

• some SCMO (subsidiary communications multiplex operation) installations not related to broadcasting (for example, private data transmission or paging) require a radio licence, for which there may be a fee
  • see CPC-2-1-03 — Licensing Radiocommunication Systems Using FM Subsidiary Communication Multiplex Operation (FM/SCMO) or Digital Radio Broadcasting (DRB) Installations
• studio transmitter links such as those using microwave frequencies may also require a radio licence, for which there may be a fee
  • see SRSP-300.953 — Technical Requirements for Radio Systems in the Fixed Service Operating in the Band 953-960 MHz

See Radio Licensing for information on radio licences, the land mobile and fixed services and the fees that may apply. If you still need guidance, contact your local Spectrum Management District Office.

Are you an applicant?

If you are an applicant intending to use an agent or broadcasting consultant, you must have filled out the ISED-ISDE3052 — Retention of an Agent form.

Learn more at: Agents for radio authorizations

Are you an agent?

If you are an agent or broadcasting consultant acting on behalf of a new applicant or an existing certificate holder, you need a web profile in our Spectrum Management System (SMS) in order to apply for new certificates and manage existing certificates.

Learn more at: Agents for radio authorizations

Be informed

Consult our Official publications page for additional information on broadcasting certification.