January 13, 2021
United States and Canada sign new Agreement on the use of the Radio Frequency Spectrum
Today U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Katherine Brucker, on behalf of the U.S. government, signed the new General Coordination Agreement on the Use of the Radio Frequency Spectrum by Terrestrial Radiocommunication Stations and Earth Stations (GCA) with the Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development. This new agreement modernizes the existing coordination framework – for the first time since 1962 — allowing for more timely deployment of new telecommunications services to consumers. The GCA will accommodate efficient spectrum use, avoid harmful interference, and strengthen the ability of regulatory agencies to manage spectrum effectively at the border.
“This agreement is yet another example of what our two countries can accomplish, even under the constraints of an ongoing pandemic. Our countries recognize the critical importance of ensuring agreements such as this continue to keep pace with changes in the rapidly developing telecommunications field. The GCA provides U.S. and Canadian agencies with the flexibility and scope to address the rapid evolution of wireless technologies,” said Chargé d’Affaires Brucker.
In the United States, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (federal spectrum) and the Federal Communications Commission (non-federal spectrum) lead these modernization efforts.
The GCA updates the “Above 30 Agreement,” which acted as the framework for coordination of the cross-border radio frequency spectrum between the United States and Canada for radio frequencies above 30 MHz for more than fifty years.
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Molly Sanchez Crowe
Spokesperson
U.S. Embassy Ottawa
Sanchezcrowemm@state.gov
