FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 25, 2008

Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Supports Canada/U.S. Spectrum Harmonization

Uniform Canadian/U.S. 700 MHz Spectrum Allocation Promises Interoperability, Cost and Security Benefits

Washington, D.C. - The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) announced today that it supports and commends the proposal of Industry Canada (the Department) to harmonize the Canadian 700 MHz band plan with the recently revised United States 700 MHz band plan. Uniform spectrum allocations offer both countries the opportunity to benefit significantly from interoperability, efficiency, and cost savings through economies of scale, as demonstrated with previous spectrum alignments.

"TIA endorses Industry Canada's proposal to maintain the consistency of the Canadian and the U.S. band plans," stated TIA President Grant Seiffert. "By cooperating on spectrum matters, both countries have enjoyed economic gains in the past and will continue to do so. Additionally, Canada/U.S. interoperability through a common band plan ensures that public safety agencies communicate effectively across jurisdictions during both routine affairs and times of emergency, improving the safety and security of both nations."

When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revised the U.S. 700 MHz band plan in 2007 to allow for a nationwide, interoperable broadband communications network to enhance public safety, the result was that it was no longer in alignment with the Canadian 700 MHz band plan, leading to Industry Canada's current proposal.

TIA will continue to closely watch and promote developments relating to the synchronization of the Canadian 700 MHz band plan with the current U.S. 700 MHz network band plan.

For more information about TIA's government affairs initiatives, please contact Danielle Coffey at dcoffey@tiaonline.org. For information about TIA, contact twalsh@tiaonline.org.

 

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About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industries through standards development, advocacy, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory compliance. With support from its 600 members, TIA enhances the business environment for companies involved in telecommunications, broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite, unified communications, emergency communications and the greening of technology. TIA is accredited by ANSI. TIA's policy team opened its Washington, D.C., headquarters on Capitol Hill in January 2008. Visit www.tiaonline.org for details.

TIA's Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ACS, ADC, ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, ArrayComm, AttivaCorp, Avaya, Bechtel Communications, Inc., Cam Communications, Cisco Systems, Corning Incorporated, Ericsson, Inc., Graybar, Henkels & McCoy, Intel Corporation, LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel, OneChip Photonics Inc., OnSite Systems, Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Telcordia Technologies, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., Westell Technologies, Inc. and Zebra Technologies Corporation. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates, ILS Technology and Orca Systems.

CONTACT:

Taly Walsh
+1.703.907.7744
twalsh@tiaonline.org

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