First Nations not included.Industry Canada Industry Canada is the department of the Government of Canada with responsibility for regional economic development, investment, and innovation/research and development. The department employs 6104 FTEs across Canada. announced its intention to release frequency bandwidths for auction in a public notice Feb 16. The frequencies, also known as spectrum, are electromagnetic fields that allow the transfer of radio signals. A similar auction occurred in 2001 where Canada successfully auctioned 52 licenses for spectrum, earning $1.4 billion through the sale. This time the spectrum being auctioned falls on the Nlaka'pamux nation in British Columbia British Columbia, province (2001 pop. 3,907,738), 366,255 sq mi (948,600 sq km), including 6,976 sq mi (18,068 sq km) of water surface, W Canada. Geography , territory of the Boston Bar First Nation The Boston Bar First Nation is a First Nations government in the Fraser Canyon area of the Central Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia. Located near the town of Boston Bar, it is a member of the Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council. . "Allocation of spectrum within a traditional territory is no different than the allocation of land, water, timber, minerals, fish and all other natural resources. The need to meet the criteria defined by the Supreme Court of Canada The Supreme Court of Canada (French: Cour suprême du Canada) is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeal in the Canadian justice system.[1] also applies to spectrum," said John Warren, spokesman for the Boston Bar First Nation. The band is asking to be involved in the decision-making process and that a percentage of the spectrum be allotted al·lot tr.v. al·lot·ted, al·lot·ting, al·lots 1. To parcel out; distribute or apportion: allotting land to homesteaders; allot blame. 2. to them, similar to the system in the United States. In response, Industry Canada said that the First Nations have been included. "There has been a submission from a First Nations organization in the [Advanced Wireless System] AWS AWS Amazon Web Services AWS American Welding Society AWS Advanced Warning System AWS Advanced Wireless Services AWS Automatic Weather Station AWS Alien Workshop (skateboard company) AWS Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH consultation. Policy consultations on spectrum issues, including the current consultation on AWS spectrum, are open to all interested parties in Canada and all views are taken into consideration," an Industry Canada spokesperson said. "Being consulted is one thing, but being acknowledged as having a stake in our resource is something else," said Warren. The spectrum is to be auctioned early 2008, and there is no news on whether the First Nation will be allowed to keep a percentage of the airwaves. |
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