Telecom and Radio Equipment Fees

Summary#

Notice No. SMSE-005-23 — Fee Order for Telecommunications and Radio Apparatus from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada sets new fees for assessing, certifying and registering radio and telecommunications equipment in Canada. The fees take effect on September 1, 2023, and include a $4,000 certification charge, a $160 per-person-hour recertification rate, a $750 equipment registration fee, and a $375 amendment fee.

What it does#

• Establishes a flat $4,000 fee for an application to certify wireless or radio equipment (one application can cover single or multiple models).
• Sets a recertification fee of $160 per person-hour (billing in hourly increments), with minimum charge rules:
  • Administrative recertification: minimum 2 hours.
  • Technical recertification (including test reports): minimum 8 hours.
• Requires an equipment registration fee of $750 per submission to add devices to the Minister’s published lists.
• Charges $375 for amendments to a certification or registration (including dual radio/telecom applications).
• States that the fees are payable at application time, except the recertification fee, which is payable after an application is made but before services are provided.
• Notes the fees are subject to periodic adjustments under the Service Fees Act, and that the earlier order (from SMSE-008-07) is repealed as of the effective date.

Who's affected#

• Manufacturers, importers, and distributors who apply to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to certify or register wireless or telecommunications equipment for sale in Canada.
• Test labs, consultants and conformity-assessment bodies that support certification and recertification work.
• Smaller businesses or startups that bring new radio-enabled products to the Canadian market and must pay these application and registration fees.
• General consumers and service providers are not directly charged these fees, but may be indirectly affected through product availability or pricing.

Why it matters#

• These fees set the cost of getting wireless and radio devices approved for the Canadian market. That can affect how quickly and cheaply companies bring products here.
• Higher or new fees may be a significant expense for makers of many low-cost devices or for firms that certify many models.
• The same Canada Gazette issue also published updated technical rules for equipment in the 3450–3900 MHz band (for example, RSS‑192 (Issue 5) and SRSP‑520 (Issue 3)). Those technical rules matter to companies building gear for that spectrum, such as fixed wireless or mobile broadband equipment.