ISED Proposes Changes to Tower Policy
https://www.rac.ca/ised-proposes-changes-to-tower-policy/
Good News for Radio Amateurs!
For immediate release | June 15, 2026
Canada’s radio regulator, Innovation, Science and Development Canada (ISED), released a consultation on their proposals for changes to their policy on antennas and towers.
These proposals will speed up and make easier the processes required to get permission to erect antenna systems. The changes were designed to make things easier for commercial telecommunications providers, but they offer many improvements to Radio Amateurs.
Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) and the Fédération des clubs radioamateurs du Québec (RAQI) submitted a joint response to the consultation. In it, we supported all of ISED’s proposals for change to this policy.
RAC and RAQI also asked for two changes and two additions to ISED’s policy:
- An increase in the exemption from consultation for antenna systems. The current policy makes antennas less than 15 metres exempt from consultation. We would like to change this to 20 metres.
- A decrease in the size of the zone within which Amateurs are required to respond to their neighbours concerns. We requested a decrease to two times the height of the antenna system from the current three times the height.
- Relief from antenna restrictions in “covenants” on residential property
- “Reasonable accommodation” of Amateur Radio antennas for those residing in condominiums, stratas and rented housing.
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A copy of RAC and RAQI’s response is available in English and French.
RAC and RAQI ask all Canadian Amateurs to respond to the consultation in support of our position.
While you are free to write your own letter, RAC has prepared a sample letter in both English and in French that you can simply cut and paste into an email. This will allow you to support our position with just a few mouse clicks. They are provided below.
Sample letter: English | French
ISED has requested that all comments be submitted by July 16, 2026, and they will post the comments on their Spectrum Management and Telecommunications website to give others an opportunity to review them. The deadline for replies on the comments of others is August 25, 2026.
Please act now and send your email to ISED at this address:
spectrumoperations-operationsduspectre@ised-isde.gc.ca
More information on the consulation is available at the following links:
- YouTube Interview: Stuart Crawford, VE9CF, interviewed RAC Regulatory Affairs Officer Dave Goodwin, VE3KG, about the proposed changes to the Tower Policy
- ISED consultation: English | French
- ISED current policy: English | French
- The “Regulatory Roundup” column published in English in the May/June 2025 issue of The Canadian Amateur (pages 40-41) provides more information on ISED’s current policy – PDF version of column
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Dave Goodwin, VE3KG
Regulatory Affairs Officer
Radio Amateurs of Canada