Digital Television (DTV) Transition Schedule

1. Intent

Through the release of this document, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) announces the digital television (DTV) transition schedule resulting from the joint 600 MHz repurposing initiative with the United States. This transition schedule outlines the sequence and schedule for over-the-air (OTA) television broadcasting stations reassigned new channels and/or digital operations as part of the new DTV allotment plan.

This publication also marks the commencement of the transition period, that will last 59 months.

2. Introduction

As part of ISED’s decision to jointly repurpose the ultra high frequency (UHF) band for OTA television broadcasting and mobile services with the United States and publication of the objectives and methodology, ISED and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) developed a joint transition schedule to implement the reassignment of over-the-air television broadcasting stations to new channels and/or digital operations identified in the new DTV allotment plan. Application processes, technical standards and requirements, operational terms and conditions applicable to television broadcasting undertakings during the transition are detailed in Broadcasting Television Application Procedures During the 600 MHz Transition.

3. DTV transition

To facilitate the orderly execution of the transition in the best interest of Canadians, the transition schedule consists of a series of 14 phases. Each transitioning television station is assigned to a specific phase.

Each transition phase will begin at the same time, but has sequential end dates. Prior to the end of each phase, there is a defined on-air testing period for broadcasters to test the operation of their facilities. While broadcasters may conduct the necessary transition activities (e.g. planning and construction) at any time throughout their phase, testing of new systems may only be conducted during the on-air testing period. By the phase end date, reassigned stations are expected to cease operation on their current channel and mode of operation.^{Footnote 1} All Canadian OTA television stations, their corresponding phase and timeline information are detailed in Annex A.

During the transition, there is the potential for temporary additional interference as stations conduct on-air testing and begin to operate on their newly assigned channels while others still continue operating on their original channels. In situations where a station causes 2% or more of additional interference to any other station, coordination among the stations involved is required. Annex B lists all reassigned stations that cause or receive 2% or more of additional interference and provides information on the stations that they will need to coordinate with during their on-air testing period.

4. Additional information

For specific information on the implementation of the television transition, including the application process, procedures and technical rules please refer to Broadcast Procedures and Rules (BPR-11), Broadcasting Television Application Procedures During the 600 MHz Transition.

For questions or additional information regarding the 600 MHz repurposing initiative, DTV transition schedule or on-air testing coordination, please contact ISED by email or by phone 343-291-1568.

Issued under the authority of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

_______________
Martin Proulx
Director General
Engineering, Planning and Standards Branch

Annex A — Phase and linked station dependency details

All Canadian OTA television stations and their corresponding phase and timeline information are detailed in Table A1, sorted alphabetically by province, then city. The phase details will be left blank for stations that do not need to transition (i.e. a digital television station that does not change channel).

Explanatory notes

The definitions of the column headings are as follows:

Call sign: Call sign of the TV station

New DTV channel: Channel number in the new DTV allotment plan

Existing channel: Existing pre-transition channel number (D denotes digital operation, A denotes analog operation)

Type: Type of television station (RP denotes regular power, LP denotes low power)

Province: Province or territory, as follows:

• AB Alberta
• BC British Columbia
• MB Manitoba
• NB New Brunswick
• NL Newfoundland and Labrador
• NS Nova Scotia
• NT Northwest Territories
• NU Nunavut
• ON Ontario
• PE Prince Edward Island
• QC Quebec
• SK Saskatchewan
• YT Yukon

City: City name

Phase number: Transition phase number

Start of on-air testing period: Start date of on-air testing period (format MM/DD/YYYY)

End of on-air testing period: End date of on-air testing period (format MM/DD/YYYY)

Phase end date: End date for the transition phase assigned to TV station (format MM/DD/YYYY)

Linked stations: Whether the station has to coordinate with any other stations during the on-air testing period (Yes/No). If Yes, these stations are listed in Table B1.