Amateur Radio Regulations  DISTILLED
by Brad VE3RHJ edited by Tom VE3TSA Feb2001

Note: this is an unofficial summary of the regulations affecting the amateur radio service in Canada. It is intended for educational purposes only. It is not a legally-accurate or an offically-authorized document. References at the end of each statement refer to the following documents from Industry Canada.
RR-Radiocommunications Regulations,
RIC2-Standards for the Operating and
RIC3-Information on the Amateur Radio Service
obtained from Industry Canada.

RADIO REGULATIONS

You must be authorized to install, possess, or operate radio equipment. RR33, RR45, RIC3(1.1)
You must not transmit superfluous signals, obscenity, or profanity. When testing, you must not interfere with other stations. RR32
You may not install or maintain an unlicensed station. RR39
You don't have exclusive rights to any frequency. RR40
You must have an Advanced qualfication to use homebuilt transmitters or amplifiers, operate a same-band repeater, or install a club station. RR44
Any person may operate your station if supervised by you and in your presence. RR46, RIC3(1.4)
You must only communicate with other amateurs. RR47(a), RR48
You must NOT use secret codes or ciphers. RR47(b)
You must NOT transmit music, commercially recorded material, or received broadcasts. RR47(c)
You may not demand or accept payment in any form for amateur communications. (You may not use amateur radio for commercial purposes.) RR49
You must NOT intercept or divulge radio communications. (Except: amateur, broadcast, or distress  communications; when ordered by the government; or when authorized by the sender or recipient.) RR54
You may transmit emergency communications on behalf of anyone. RR54

OPERATING STANDARDS

You must use the listed amateur frequency bands. RIC2(3), RIC3(1.3), RIC2(SCHED 1)
You must not exceed the listed signal bandwidths for each band, measured 26 dB down. RIC2(3), RIC2(4) SCHED 1
Radio controlled models are restricted to frequencies above 30 MHz. RIC2(5)
You must not communicate with forbidden countries RIC2(6)
You must not allow foreign third-party communications unless specifically allowed. (Except for Canadian amateurs, CFARS, and MARS.) RIC2(6)
You must not interfere with any radio station or private receiver. RIC2(8)
 In the shared frequency bands (UHF and higher), you must not interfere with another (non-amateur) service, but they may interfere with you. RIC2(8)
You must transmit your call sign at the beginning and end of each period of communication or test, and every 30 minutes during that period. RIC2(9)
You may not own a transmitter capable of more than twice your legal power limit. RIC2(10)
You may not transmit unmodulated carrier except for brief tests. RIC2(11)
Basic operator limits: 250W DC input, 560W PEP SSB output, or 190W carrier output. RIC2(11)
Advanced operator limits: 1000W DC input, 2250W PEP SSB output, or 750W carrier output. RIC2(11)
You must not overmodulate (AM more than 100%). RIC2(12.1)
Below 148 MHz, your transmitter must have frequency stability equal to crystal control. RIC2(12.2)
You must be able determine your transmit frequency to crystal-calibrator accuracy. RIC2(13a)
You must be able to indicate or prevent overmodulation. RIC2(13b)
You must inform Industry Canada if you move. RIC2(14)
Your license must be available to an Inspector within 48 hrs. RIC3(5.3)
It is your responsibility to comply with  safety code 6. RIC3(7)
It is your responsibility to consult with local land use authorities prior to installing antenna structures. RIC3(7)
 


FREQUENCY BANDS AND BANDWIDTHS FOR CANADA AND REGION 2
* shared with other (non-amateur) services
RIC2(SCHED 1)

Item

Frequency Band

Maximum
Bandwidth

Qualifications

Also Called

1.

1.800 to 2.000 MHz

6 kHz

B and 5, or B and 12

"160 metres"

2.

3.500 to 4.000 MHz

6 kHz

B and 5, or B and 12

"80/75 metres"

3.

7.000 to 7.300 MHz

6 kHz

B and 12

"40 metres"

4.

10.100 to 10.150 MHz

1 kHz

B and 12

"30 metres"

5.

14.000 to 14.350 MHz

6 kHz

B and 12

"20 metres"

6.

18.068 to 18.168 MHz

6 kHz

B and 12

"17 metres"

7.

21.000 to 21.450 MHz

6 kHz

B and 12

"15 metres"

8.

24.890 to 24.990 MHz

6 kHz

B and 12

"12 metres"

9.

28.000 to 29.700 MHz

20 kHz

B and 5, or B and 12

"10 metres"

10.

50.000 to 54.000 MHz

30 kHz

B

"6 metres"

11.

144.000 to 148.000 MHz

30 kHz

B

"2 metres"

12.

220.000 to 225.000 MHz

100 kHz

B

"1 1/4 metres"

13.*

430.000 to 450.000 MHz

12 MHz

B

"70 centimetres"

14.*

902.000 to 928.000 MHz

12 MHz

B

 

15.*

1.240 to 1.300 GHz

any

B

 

16.*

2.300 to 2.450 GHz

any

B

 

17.*

3.300 to 3.500 GHz

any

B

 

18.*

5.650 to 5.925 GHz

any

B

 

19.*

10.000 to 10.500 GHz

any

B

 

20.

24.000 to 24.050 GHz

any

B

 

21.*

24.050 to 24.250 GHz

any

B

 

22.

47.000 to 47.200 GHz

any

B

 

23.

75.500 to 76.000 GHz

any

B

 

24.*

76.000 to 81.000 GHz

any

B

 

25.

142.000 to 144.000 GHz

any

B

 

26.*

144.000 to 149.000 GHz

any

B

 

27.*

241.000 to 248.000 GHz

any

B

 

28.

248.000 to 250.000 GHz

any

B