PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 16 - 739
Released:  June 30, 2016
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO U.S. 
PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES ALONG THE CANADA BORDER SEEKING TO ROAM INTO 
CANADA OR IMPROVE CROSS-BORDER COMMUNICATIONS VIA BASE STATION 
REPEATERS
By this Public Notice, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) provides 
guidance to U.S. public safety licensees seeking to: (1) roam into Canada with their mobile or hand-held 
portable radio equipment; (2) communicate from the U.S. through base station repeaters in Canada; or (3) 
host Canadian public safety licensees seeking to communicate through base station repeaters in the U.S.  
Our guidance is based upon recent arrangements and understandings reached by Bureau staff with 
officials from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).  The licensing guidance 
we provide below applies to any public safety licensee operating a Private Land Mobile Radio (PLMR) 
system in any frequency band authorized under Part 90 of the Commission’s rules.1  
Cross-Border Communication Scenarios
Public safety licensees and their associated first responders who operate PLMR radio equipment 
along the U.S.-Canada border have long expressed a need to roam across the border with their licensed 
radio equipment or to communicate across the border through base station repeaters in the other country. 2  
Specifically, these licensees indicate that their first responders could improve their ability to 
respond to emergency incidents along the border if they could communicate under the following three 
scenarios:  
Ř Scenario 1: operate their own mobile and/or hand-held portable radio transceivers on the 
opposite side of the border;
Ř Scenario 2: use base station repeaters on the opposite side of the border to interoperate with 
public safety licensees in the other country; 
Ř Scenario 3: use base station repeaters on the opposite side of the border to communicate with 
public safety licensees in their own country.3
  
1 See 47 CFR § 90.20.
2 In the context of this Public Notice, the term “first responder” refers to any person authorized by a licensee to 
operate PLMR radio equipment under its license.  
3 The three cross-border scenarios were first presented to officials from the FCC and ISED at a 2009 conference 
hosted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) in 
Niagara Falls New York.  The conference was attended by first-responders from the both the U.S. and Canada.
2In response to these scenarios, Bureau staff along with staff at the International Bureau and State 
Department worked with ISED to determine what changes to international agreements or licensing 
procedures were needed, if any, to permit public safety licensees along the border to operate in the 
manner described above.  
Below we summarize their results and conclusions.  
Scenario 1 – Conditions for Cross-Border Roaming 
In October 2014, the FCC and ISED (collectively the Agencies) signed a “Statement of Intent” 
(SOI) to update roaming privileges for licensees operating on public safety spectrum which were 
originally adopted by the U.S. and Canada via a Convention in 1952.4 The SOI removed barriers to 
roaming with hand-held portable units and eliminated the need for the host country to issue permits to 
public safety licensees crossing the border.5 The SOI is available on the Commission’s website at: 
https://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/international-agreements.
Pursuant to the SOI, first responders operating along the U.S. - Canada border may now roam 
across the border with their mobile and hand-held portable radio units to perform duties for which they 
are licensed provided the first responder’s public safety agency is properly licensed in its country of 
origin.6 No additional approval or permits are required if the first responder’s agency is licensed in its 
home country for the frequencies the first responder is using.  
Consequently, U.S. first responders seeking to roam across the border into Canada for temporary 
operations on the other side of the border may now do so provided the first responder’s agency is licensed 
for the frequencies it intends to operate in Canada.  
  
4 In 1952 the U.S. and Canada ratified a Convention which addresses citizens of either county operating radio 
equipment in the other country.  See Convention Between Canada and the United States of America Relating to the 
Operation by Citizens of Either Country of Certain Radio Equipment of Stations in the Other Country (signed Feb 8, 
1951 and entered into force May 15, 1952) (1952 Convention).
5 See Statement of Intent of the Federal Communications Commission of the United States of America and the 
Department of Industry of Canada Related to the Cross-Border Operation of Portable Radios by Public Safety 
Agencies Along the United States-Canada Border (Oct 2014)(SOI).
6 Enforcement authority remains with the country in which the transmitter is operating.  
3Scenarios 2 and 3 – Conditions for Use of Base Station Repeaters in the Other Country  
Staff from the Agencies agree that first responders operating mobile or hand-held radio 
equipment along the U.S-Canada border may communicate through base station repeaters located in the 
other country, as described above in Scenarios 2 and 3, provided the licensee of the first responder’s radio 
obtains written consent from the licensee of the base station repeater (host licensee) and the following 
conditions are met: 
· the base station repeater is properly licensed in the country in which it is located; 
· the host licensee maintains control and is responsible for operation of its base station repeater 
at all times;
· a licensee obtains written consent from the host licensee before permitting its first responders 
to communicate with a base station repeater in the other country; and 
· a licensee is properly licensed in its own country for the frequencies its first responders use to 
communicate through a base station repeater in the other country. 
The requirements detailed above apply regardless of whether the first responder intends to use the 
base station on the other side of the border to interoperate with counterparts in the other country (Scenario 
2) or to interoperate with first responders in its own country (Scenario 3).  
After researching the issue, staff at the Agencies concluded that the sharing mechanisms 
described in Scenarios 2 and 3, although not specifically contemplated, are consistent with existing 
regulations and international agreements.7 Thus, staff found no need to modify current regulations or 
agreements.  
Nonetheless, staff at the Agencies agree that licensees should meet the requirements described 
above before their users can begin communicating through a base station repeater in the other country.  
Furthermore, although we instruct licensees to first obtain written consent from the host licensee, we seek 
to minimize the burden on both the licensee seeking consent and the host licensee issuing consent by 
providing the parties maximum flexibility to decide the format of the written document.8
  
7 See 47 CFR § 1.928 (detailing requirements for coordination of frequency assignments with Canada).  
8 When obtaining written consent, we advise licensees to ensure that their mobile and portable radios can support the 
trunked radio features of the base station repeater in the other country.  We also advise U.S. licensees to share with 
their Canadian counterparts any domestic mutual aid agreements (U.S. licensee-to-U.S. licensee) which are already 
in place and for which cross-border communications are contemplated.  
4U.S. Base Station Licensees Hosting Canadian Licensee’s First Responders 
The licensee of a base station repeater located in the U.S. may act as a host for a public safety 
first responder from Canada provided the U.S. licensee meets the requirements described above 
beforehand.  Specifically, the U.S. host licensee should first agree to terms of use for the base station 
repeater and provide its written consent to the Canadian licensee.  
The written consent should indicate the call sign or co-channel serial (COSER) coordination 
number (if applicable) of the Canadian licensee whose first responders are permitted to communicate 
through the base station repeater and list the input/output frequencies to which they will have access.  As 
noted above, the format for written consent is left to the parties involved.  The host licensee should 
maintain a record of its written consent and provide a copy to Bureau staff if requested.   
If the licensee of the base station repeater in the U.S. needs to modify the technical parameters of 
its license prior to hosting a first responder from Canada, we recommend it include with its modification 
application a copy of its written consent to the Canadian licensee to assist Bureau staff in processing the 
application.  Examples of modifications which could be needed include adding additional channels or 
increasing the effective radiated power listed on the license.  
 
Once a U.S. licensee provides its written consent and makes any necessary modifications to its 
license, it may act as a host for a Canadian first responder seeking to use the base station repeater to 
communicate with its counterparts in the U.S. (Scenario 2) or with first responders in Canada (Scenario 
3).  The Canadian first responder must be properly licensed in Canada for the frequencies on which it 
operates before it can communicate through the base station repeater in the U.S.
U.S. Licensees Seeking a Canadian Host 
Any U.S. public safety licensee seeking to have its first responders communicate through a base 
station repeater in Canada must first obtain written consent from the Canadian licensee of that base station 
(host licensee).  The written consent from the host licensee in Canada should be addressed to the licensee 
of the first responder’s radio.  In addition, ISED may require the host licensee to add a condition to its 
license before permitting U.S. first responders to communicate through the base station repeater in 
Canada.
We suggest that the written consent include the call sign or COSER coordination number (if 
applicable) of the base station repeater in Canada and list the input/output frequencies to which the U.S. 
first responder will have access.  The format for written consent is left to the parties involved.  The U.S. 
licensee receiving written consent from a host licensee in Canada should maintain a record of the consent 
and provide a copy to Bureau staff if requested.
 
If a U.S. licensee needs to modify the technical parameters of its license prior to communicating 
through a base station repeater in Canada, we recommend it include with its modification application a 
copy of the written consent it received from the host licensee in Canada to assist Bureau staff with 
processing the application.  Examples of modifications which could be needed include adding channels or 
increasing the number of mobile units listed on the license.  
Once a U.S. licensee receives written consent from the host licensee in Canada and makes any 
necessary modifications to its license, its first responders may use the base station repeater in Canada to 
5communicate with their counterparts in Canada (Scenario 2) or with first responders in the U.S. (Scenario 
3) provided the host is properly licensed in Canada and has added any necessary conditions to its license.  
Licensing Along Border Under Any of the Three Scenarios 
U.S. public licensees and their associated first responders seeking to operate under any of the 
three scenarios described above should be aware of the licensing and coordination requirements for the 
frequency band in which they seek to operate.  For instance, Bureau staff coordinates with Canada any 
application for the VHF or UHF frequency bands in which the applicant is: 
· seeking a frequency in the 30-174 MHz or 450-470 MHz bands9 which is, 
o within the coordination zone10 and,
o proposing to operate at an effective radiated power (ERP) greater than three watts.  
The purpose of this coordination is to determine whether or not an applicant’s proposal is likely to cause 
harmful interference to a licensee in Canada.11 Coordination is required for any frequency in these VHF 
or UHF band segments including the interoperability frequencies.  We list the designated U.S. VHF and 
UHF interoperability frequencies in Attachment B.  
Thus, as noted above, any applicant seeking to license frequencies or facilities in these frequency 
bands to operate under any of the three scenarios can significantly reduce the risk of an inadvertent 
rejection by ISED if it includes with its application a description of how it intends to interoperate with 
licensees in Canada, including, if available, copies of any written agreements between the licensees.12  
Bureau staff will include this detail as part of an information exchange with staff at ISED when 
coordinating applications for these frequency bands.13  
  
9 The Agencies license applications in the 30-174 MHz and 450-470 MHz frequency bands on a first-come, first-
served basis.  See Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United States of America and the Government 
of Canada Concerning the Coordination and Use of Radio Frequencies Above Thirty Megacycles per Second, with 
Annexes (Oct 24, 1962) (Above 30 MHz Agreement).  See also 47 CFR § 1.928 (detailing FCC rule requirements 
pursuant to the Above 30 MHz Agreement).
10 "Line A" defines the coordination zone in the U.S. along the border with Canada for the lower 48 states while 
“Line C” establishes a similar coordination zone in the U.S. along the border with Canada in Alaska.  See 47 CFR 
§ 1.928(e).
11 ISED will typically reject a U.S. coordination proposal that is predicted to produce a signal strength exceeding -
146 dBW based on 10% time / 50% location variability at the location of a Canadian base or mobile station 
operating on the proposed frequency.  See Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, and International Bureau Provide Guidance to Part 22 and Part 90 Applicants Seeking 
VHF and UHF Frequencies Along the U.S. – Canada Border, Public Notice, 24 FCC Rcd 5578, 5579 (2009). 
12 47 CFR § 90.129(h) (supplemental information to be routinely submitted with applications, include requests for 
authorization to communicate with foreign stations in accordance with §§ 90.20(b) or 90.417 of the Commission’s 
rules).  See also 47 CFR § 90.175(a) (frequency coordinators may request, and applicants are required to provide, 
all appropriate technical information, system requirements, and justification for requested station parameters when 
such information is necessary to identify and recommend the most appropriate frequency.)  
13 47 CFR § 1.928 (provides for the exchange of frequency assignment information and engineering comments on 
proposed assignments along the U.S.-Canada border areas in certain bands above 30 MHz).  See also 47 CFR 
6Coordination with Canada is typically not needed for U.S. public safety applicants seeking to 
license channels in the 700 MHz (narrowband) or 800 MHz bands.14 U.S. licensees may operate on 
channels designated as primary to the U.S. in these frequency bands provided they meet the requirements 
outlined in Arrangements F and Q respectively.15  
Furthermore, the designated mutual aid and interoperability channels in these bands are also 
available for cross-border communications between first responders in the U.S. and Canada.16 We list 
these channels in Attachment B.  A U.S. first responder may operate on these channels to communicate 
along the border with other first responders in the U.S. or across the border to interoperate with their 
Canadian counterparts.17
U.S. public safety agencies eligible to hold a license pursuant to Section 90.20 of the 
Commission’s rules may have their first responders operate mobile units and hand-held portable units on 
the mutual aid and interoperability channels in the 700 MHz (narrowband) or 800 MHz bands without the 
agency having an individual license for those channels.18 These agencies, however, must hold an 
individual license in order to operate a base station or control station on these mutual aid or 
interoperability channels.19  
Finally, we recognize that in some cases, a U.S. public safety licensee may need to license a 
channel outside the Public Safety Pool in order to interoperate with licensees in Canada because, in many 
instances, public safety licensees in Canada use different channels than their U.S. counterparts.20 In these 
instances, the public safety licensee may seek a waiver to operate on a U.S. channel for which it would 
otherwise not be eligible.  Any licensee seeking such a waiver, however, must demonstrate that it has no 
other option for communicating with the licensee across the border and that its proposed operation will 
     
§ 90.175(i) (applications for facilities near the U.S.-Canada border area may require coordination with the Canadian 
government).      
14 See Sharing Arrangement Between the Department of Industry of Canada and the Federal Communications 
Commission of the United States of America Concerning the Use of the Frequency Bands 806-824 MHz, and 851-
869 MHz by the Land Mobile Service Along the Canada-United States Border (Aug 2011) (Arrangement F); 
Sharing Arrangement Between the Department of Industry of Canada and the Federal Communications Commission 
of the United States of America Concerning the Use of the Frequency Bands 768-776 MHz and 798-806 MHz by 
the Land Mobile Service Along the Canada-United States Border (May 2013) (Arrangement Q).  
15 Arrangement F at § 5; Arrangement Q at § 5.
16 Arrangement F at § 3.2.3; Arrangement Q at § 3.2.4.
17 Interoperability channels are to be used only for coordination of tactical communications or for similar emergency 
communications between or among public safety agencies.  See Arrangement F at § 3.2.3, n. 1; Arrangement Q at 
§ 3.2.4, n.2.
18 The Development of Operational, Technical and Spectrum Requirements for Meeting Federal, State and Local 
Public Safety Agency Communication Requirements Through the Year 2010, Third Memorandum Opinion and 
Order and Third Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 19844, 19885 ¶ 90 (2000).
19 Id.
20 Unlike the U.S., ISED does not specify dedicated public safety interoperability channels in the 150-174 MHz and 
450-470 MHz bands.  
7not cause interference to other U.S. or Canadian incumbent operators.  Commission staff will evaluate 
requests of this nature on a case-by-case basis.21  
  
Paperwork Reduction Act
This document contains new information collection requirements subject to the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13.  It will be submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review under Section 3507(d) of the PRA.  OMB, the general public, and other 
Federal agencies are invited to comment on the new information collection requirements contained in this 
document.  In addition, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107-
198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4), the Bureau will seek specific comment on how the Bureau might further 
reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
- FCC –
  
21 See, e.g., State of Washington, Order, 22 FCC Rcd 10121 (2007) (granting Washington State Patrol a waiver to 
operate on a paging frequency in order to interoperate with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police).  
8Attachment A:  Summary of Licensing Requirements Under Three Cross-Border Scenarios
Conditions for Licensing Under Three Cross-Border Communication Scenarios
v U.S. Public Safety Licensee First Responder Roaming into Canada 
(Scenario 1)
Roaming is permitted pursuant to the 1952 Convention and the Statement of Intent (SOI) signed by 
between the FCC and ISED in Oct. 2014.  
v U.S. Public Safety Licensee First Responder Communicating with a Base Station Repeater in Canada 
(Scenario 2 or 3)  
Communications with the base station repeater in Canada may only occur if the host licensee is 
properly licensed in Canada.  The host may also need to add a condition to its license.  
Once these conditions are met, the U.S. licensee’s first responders may use the base station repeater in 
Canada to communicate with their counterparts in Canada (Scenario 2) or with first responders in the 
U.S. (Scenario 3) provided the host licensee maintains control and is responsible for the base station 
repeater’s operation at all times.  
A U.S. public safety licensee’s first responder may roam across the border into Canada 
with his or her mobile and portable radio equipment provided it is: 
· properly licensed in the U.S. for the frequencies on which it operates
· performing duties for which it is licensed 
A U.S. public safety licensee’s first responder may communicate with a base station 
repeater in Canada if, beforehand, the licensee: 
· is properly licensed in the U.S. for the frequencies on which it operates 
· obtains written consent from the licensee of the base station in Canada (host 
licensee)
9v U.S. Licensee Hosting a Canadian Licensee’s First Responder Seeking to Communicate with a Base 
Station Repeater in the U.S. 
(Scenario 2 or 3 for licensee in Canada)
Once the above conditions are met, Canadian licensee’s first responders may use the base station 
repeater in the U.S. to communicate with their counterparts in the U.S. (Scenario 2) or first 
responders in Canada (Scenario 3) provided the host licensee maintains control and is responsible for 
the repeater’s operation at all times.
The licensee of a base station repeater located in the U.S. (host licensee) may permit a 
Canadian first responder to communicate through its base station repeater provided that, 
beforehand, the host licensee: 
· is properly licensed in the U.S. for the base station frequencies on which it 
transmits 
· agrees to terms of use and provides written consent to the Canadian licensee.
10
Attachment B – Use of Mutual Aid and Interoperability Channels Along Canada Border
v U.S. licensees need an individual license to operate on these channels in the Canada coordination 
zones defined by Lines A and C.  
150-162 MHz Band
Interoperability Channel (MHz) Industry Label* Purpose
151.1375 MHz (base/mobile) VTAC11 Tactical
154.4525 MHz (base/mobile) VTAC12 Tactical
155.7525 MHz (base/mobile) VCALL10 Calling
158.7375 MHz (base/mobile) VTAC13 Tactical
159.4725 MHz (base/mobile) VTAC14 Tactical
450-470 MHz Band
Interoperability Channel (MHz) Industry Label* Purpose
453.2125 MHz (base/mobile)
458.2125 MHz (mobile)
UCALL40D
UCALL40
Calling
453.4625 MHz (base/mobile)
458.4625 MHz (mobile)
UTAC41D
UTAC41
Tactical
453.7125 MHz (base/mobile)
458.7125 MHz (mobile)
UTAC42D
UTAC42
Tactical
453.8625 MHz (base/mobile)
458.8625 MHz (mobile)
UTAC43D
UTAC43
Tactical
* Industry adopted channel nomenclature but not specified in FCC rules. 
11
v U.S. licensees need no separate authorization to operate mobile and hand-held portable units on the 
following channels.  This blanket licensing approach applies to operation anywhere in the U.S. 
including along the border with Canada.  Operation of a base or control station on these channels, 
however, requires an individual license. 
Licensees may use these channels for cross-border tactical communications with agencies in Canada.  
800 MHz Band
Mutual Aid Channel (MHz) Label * Purpose
851.0125 MHz (base/mobile)
806.0125 MHz (mobile)
8CALL90D
8CALL90
Calling
851.5125 MHz (base/mobile)
806.5125 MHz (mobile)
8TAC91D
8TAC91
Tactical
852.0125 MHz (base/mobile)
807.0125 MHz (mobile)
8TAC92D
8TAC92
Tactical
852.5125 MHz (base/mobile)
807.0125 MHz (mobile)
8TAC93D
8TAC93
Tactical
853.0125 MHz (base/mobile)
808.0125 MHz (mobile)
8TAC94D
8TAC94
Tactical
 
700 MHz Band
Interoperability Channel (MHz) Label * Purpose**
769.14375 MHz (base/mobile)
799.14375 MHz (mobile)
7TAC51D
7TAC51
Tactical
General Public Safety
769.24375 MHz (base/mobile)
799.24375 MHz (mobile)
7CALL50D
7CALL50
Calling
769.39375 MHz (base/mobile)
799.39375 MHz (mobile)
7MED65D
7MED65
Tactical
EMS
769.49375 MHz (base/mobile)
799.49375 MHz (mobile)
7MED66D
7MED66
Tactical
EMS
769.64375 MHz (base/mobile)
799.64375 MHz (mobile)
7TAC52D
7TAC52
Tactical
General Public Safety
12
Interoperability Channel (MHz) Label * Purpose**
769.74375 MHz (base/mobile)
799.74375 MHz (mobile)
7TAC55D
7TAC55
Tactical
General Public Safety
769.89375 MHz (base/mobile)
799.89375 MHz (mobile)
7FIRE63D
7FIRE63
Tactical
Fire
769.99375 MHz (base/mobile)
799.99375 MHz (mobile)
7FIRE64D
7FIRE64
Tactical
Fire
770.14375 MHz (base/mobile)
800.14375 MHz (mobile)
7TAC53D
7TAC53
Tactical
General Public Safety
770.24375 MHz (base/mobile)
800.24375 MHz (mobile)
7TAC56D
7TAC56
Tactical
General Public Safety
770.39375 MHz (base/mobile)
800.39375 MHz (mobile)
7LAW61D
7LAW61
Tactical
Law Enforcement
770.49375 MHz (base/mobile)
800.49375 MHz (mobile)
7LAW62D
7LAW62
Tactical
Law Enforcement
770.64375 MHz (base/mobile)
800.64375 MHz (mobile)
7TAC54D
7TAC54
Tactical
General Public Safety
770.89375 MHz (base/mobile)
800.89375 MHz (mobile)
7MOB59D
7MOB59
Tactical
Mobile Repeater
770.99375 MHz (base/mobile)
800.99375 MHz (mobile)
7GTAC57D
7GTAC57
Tactical
Other Public Service
773.00625 MHz (base/mobile)
803.00625 MHz (mobile)
7MED86D
7MED86
Tactical
EMS
773.10625 MHz (base/mobile)
803.10625 MHz (mobile)
7TAC71D
7TACD71
Tactical
General Public Safety
773.25625 MHz (base/mobile)
803.25625 MHz (mobile)
7CALL70D
7CALL70
Calling
773.35625 MHz (base/mobile)
803.35625 MHz (mobile)
7MED87D
7MED87
Tactical
EMS
773.50625 MHz (base/mobile)
803.50625 MHz (mobile)
7FIRE83D
7FIRE83
Tactical
Fire
13
Interoperability Channel (MHz) Label * Purpose**
773.60625 MHz (base/mobile)
803.60625 MHz (mobile)
7TAC72D
7TAC72
Tactical
General Public Safety
773.75625 MHz (base/mobile)
803.75625 MHz (mobile)
7TAC75D
7TAC75
Tactical
General Public Safety
773.85625 MHz (base/mobile)
803.85625 MHz (mobile)
7FIRE84D
7FIRE84
Tactical
Fire
774.00625 MHz (base/mobile)
804.00625 MHz (mobile)
7LAW81D
7LAW81
Tactical
Law Enforcement
774.10625 MHz (base/mobile)
804.10625 MHz (mobile)
7TAC73D
7TAC73
Tactical
General Public Safety
774.25625 MHz (base/mobile)
804.25625 MHz (mobile)
7TAC76D
7TAC76
Tactical
General Public Safety
774.35625 MHz (base/mobile)
804.35625 MHz (mobile)
7LAW82D
7LAW82
Tactical
Law Enforcement
774.50625 MHz (base/mobile)
804.50625 MHz (mobile)
7MOB79D
7MOB79
Tactical
Mobile Repeater
774.60625 MHz (base/mobile)
804.60625 MHz (mobile)
7TAC74D
7TAC74
Tactical
General Public Safety
774.85625 MHz (base/mobile)
804.85625 MHz (mobile)
7GTAC77D
7GTAC77
Tactical
Other Public Service
* Industry adopted channel nomenclature but not specified in FCC rules.
** Tactical designations are industry adopted standard but not specified in FCC rules.  
14
Attachment C: Cross-Border Communication Scenarios with Examples
Examples License Requirements Visual Description
1 Use of mobile or portable radios to 
communicate in direct mode with 
public safety officials in other 
country.
Example:  US public safety 
licensee first responder using a 
portable radio in the U.S. to 
communicate directly with his or 
her counterpart in Canada and a 
mobile unit in the U.S.  
All licensees communicate from 
their home country.
All licensees must be properly licensed in their 
home country for frequencies on which they 
transmit. 
In this example, the U.S. licensee will need to 
hold an individual license for its mobile and 
portable units operating on frequencies f1 and f2 
unless these frequencies are interoperability or 
mutual aid frequencies from the 700 MHz or 
800 MHz band in which case no separate 
authorization is needed. 
If frequency f1 or f2 are from the 150 MHz or 
450 MHz bands (including interoperability 
frequencies) then operation in the Canada 
coordination zones defined by Lines A and C 
must be licensed individually and coordinated 
with Canada prior to operation. 
We recommend applicants include a copy of any 
written agreement with licensees in Canada 
when applying to license frequencies for cross-
border communications.
f1 f1
f2
2 Use of mobile radio (installed in a 
vehicle) or portable radio traveling 
across the border for operation on 
a temporary basis in the other 
country.
Cross-Border Scenario 1.
Example:  A US firefighter crosses 
the border to assist with a fire in 
the other country but wants to 
maintain communication with his 
or her home jurisdiction.
The base station, mobile, and portable units 
must be properly licensed in the U.S.  
Operation on Canada side of border is pursuant 
to 1952 treaty and the Statement of Intent (SOI).
In this example, the U.S. licensee will need to 
hold a license for its mobile and portable units 
operating on frequency f1 and its base station 
repeater operating on frequency f2.  The base 
station repeater must be licensed under any 
scenario, but if frequency f1 is an 
interoperability or mutual aid frequency from 
the 700 MHz or 800 MHz bands then no 
separate authorization is needed for the mobile 
or portable units.  
If frequency f1 or f2 is from the 150 MHz or 
450 MHz bands (including interoperability 
frequencies) then operation in the Canada 
coordination zones defined by Lines A and C 
must be licensed individually and coordinated 
with Canada prior to operation.
f1
f2
15
Examples License Requirements Visual Description
3 Use of a base station repeater in 
other country to interoperate with 
first responders in other country.
Cross-Border Scenario 2.
Example: US licensee’s first 
responder using a portable radio in 
the U.S. to communicate through a 
base station repeater in Canada to 
provide logistical support to a 
Canadian first responder pursuing 
a suspect in Canada.
All licensees must be properly licensed in their 
home country for frequencies on which they 
transmit.  Any user seeking to communicate 
with a base station repeater in the other country 
must obtain written consent from the license 
holder for that base station prior to using it.  The 
process for obtaining consent will be left up to 
the agencies involved.
In this example, the US licensee will need to 
hold an individual license for its mobile and 
portable units operating on frequency f1 unless 
frequency f1 is an interoperability or mutual aid 
frequency from the 700 MHz or 800 MHz bands 
in which case no separate authorization is 
needed as noted above.  
If frequency f1 is from the 150 MHz or 450 
MHz bands (including interoperability 
frequencies) then operation in the Canada 
coordination zones defined by Lines A and C 
must be licensed individually and coordinated 
with Canada prior to operation.
The U.S. licensee will need to obtain written 
consent from the licensee of the base station in 
Canada (host licensee).  The host licensee will 
need to be properly licensed in Canada and may 
need to add a condition to its license before the 
U.S. licensee can begin communicating with the 
base station repeater.  
We recommend an applicant seeking to apply 
for a license in order to communicate with a 
base station repeater in Canada include with its 
application a copy of the written consent it 
received from the licensee of that base station.  
The written consent should note the base station 
input and output frequencies (f1 and f2) to 
which the applicant will have access. 
f1 f2
16
Examples License Requirements Visual Description
4 Use of a base station repeater 
located on the opposite side of the 
border to interoperate with first 
responders (base, mobile or 
portable) located in its own 
country.
Cross-Border Scenario 3.
Example:  U.S. Public Safety 
licensee’s first responder using a 
portable radio in the U.S. to 
communicate through a base 
station repeater located in Canada 
to communicate with first 
responders in the U.S. fighting a 
fire.  
All licensees must be properly licensed in their 
home country for frequencies on which they 
transmit.  Any user seeking to communicate 
with a base station repeater in the other country 
must obtain written consent from the license 
holder of that base station prior to using it.  The 
process for obtaining consent will be left up to 
the agencies involved.
In this example, the US licensee will need to 
hold an individual license for its mobile and 
portable units operating on frequency f1 unless 
frequency f1 is an interoperability or mutual aid 
frequency from the 700 MHz or 800 MHz bands 
in which case no separate authorization is 
needed as noted above.  
If frequency f1 is from the 150 MHz or 450 
MHz bands (including interoperability 
frequencies) then operation in the Canada 
coordination zones defined by Lines A and C 
must be licensed individually and coordinated 
with Canada prior to operation.
The U.S. licensee will need to obtain written 
consent from the licensee of the base station in 
Canada (host licensee).  The host licensee will 
need to be properly licensed in Canada and may 
need to add a condition to its license before the 
U.S. licensee can begin communicating with the 
base station repeater.  
We encourage an applicant seeking to apply for 
a license in order to communicate with a base 
station repeater in Canada to include with its 
application a copy of the written consent it 
received from the licensee of that base station.  
The written consent should note the base station 
input and output frequencies (f1 and f2) to 
which the applicant will have access.
f1
f2
17
Examples License Requirements Visual Description
5 Use of a base station repeater by 
first responders on the opposite 
side of the border to communicate 
with their counterparts on both 
sides of the border.  
Combination of Cross-Border 
Scenarios 2 and 3.
Example:  Canadian licensee’s 
first responder using a portable 
radio in Canada to communicate 
through a base station repeater in 
the U.S. to coordinate a search and 
rescue mission with first 
responders on both sides on the 
border.  
All licensees must be properly licensed in their 
home country for frequencies on which they 
transmit.  Any user seeking to communicate 
with a base station repeater in the other country 
must obtain written consent from the license 
holder for that base station prior to using it.  The 
process for obtaining consent will be left up to 
the agencies involved.
In this example, the US licensee (host licensee) 
will need to hold a license for its base station 
repeater operating on frequency f2 even if it is 
using an interoperability or mutual aid 
frequency from the 700 MHz and 800 MHz 
bands.  
Furthermore, the host licensee must agree to 
terms of use and provide written consent to the 
licensee in Canada before its first responders can 
begin communicating with the base station 
repeater.
If the licensee of the base station repeater needs 
to apply for a new license or to make a 
modification to an existing license in order to 
act as a host for an agency from Canada, we 
recommend it include with its application a copy 
of its written consent to the agency from Canada 
to assist Bureau staff with processing of the 
application
f1f2
f2
18
Examples License Requirements Visual Description
6 Use of a base station on one side 
of the border to communicate via 
base station repeater on the 
opposite side of the border with 
first responders located on the 
both sides of the border.
Combination of Cross-Border 
Scenarios 2 and 3.
Example:  A U.S. dispatcher 
communicates via a control station 
(FX1) through a base station 
repeater in Canada in order to 
interoperate with first responders 
on both sides of the border.  
All licensees must be properly licensed in their 
home country for frequencies on which they 
transmit.  Any user seeking to communicate 
with a base station repeater in the other country 
must obtain written consent from the license 
holder for that base station prior to using it.  The 
process for obtaining consent will be left up to 
the agencies involved.
In this example, the US licensee will need to 
hold a license for its control station (FX1) 
operating on frequency f1 even if it is using an 
interoperability or mutual aid frequency from 
the 700 MHz and 800 MHz bands.  
The U.S. licensee will need to obtain written 
consent from the licensee of the base station in 
Canada (host licensee).  The host licensee in 
Canada will need to be properly licensed in 
Canada and may need to add a condition to its 
license before the U.S. licensee can begin 
communicating with the base station repeater.  
We encourage an applicant seeking to apply for 
a license in order to communicate with a base 
station repeater in Canada to include with its 
application a copy of the written consent it 
received from the licensee of that base station.  
The written consent should note the base station 
input and output frequencies (f1 and f2) to 
which the applicant will have access.  
f1
f2
f2