To make things even more complicated in Canada for unlicensed transmitters, there are the various RSS rules, which DO NOT APPLY TO BROADCASTING. Broadcasting is defined as a signal capable of being listened to by a random member of the public in a undefined area.
RSS-GEN underlies all the RSS rules. The biggest issue here is that ALL unlicensed transmitters used in Canada must be certified under RSS rules, or under BETS-1. There is no caveat of 'being compliant' with the rules. If a transmitter is not certified for a particular use, it is automatically deemed not compliant.
RSS-210 is currently almost equivalent to Part 15 in the U.S. The biggest omission in Canada is the ability to homebrew your own transmitter, which falls directly out of the rule that all transmitters must be certified. You can, however, take a home brewed transmitter to a lab and get a TAC (Technical Acceptance Certificate) for use, if you are willing to spend the money for certification. An interesting side note is that Canada used to allow BETS-1 field strength levels at the FM band edges in older RSS-210 rules, and even across the entire band in others. This has changed, however, and Part 15 and RSS-210, with the exception of the homebrewed transmitter, are essentially aligned.
I'm not going to go through all the various RSS rules, as there are far more of them than in BETS. However, one interesting one, RSS-123, has no equivalent in the U.S.
RSS-123 is a licensed (through ISED) service, but isn't considered broadcasting. Under RSS123, you are allowed to use up to 1 watt ERP, and transmit to a strictly bounded area. At the boundaries, your FM signal field strength is allowed to be 100uv/m at most. It is intended for information only, such as tourism within a park, or store information within a shopping mall. It could also be used, say, within a mobile home park. Apparently, within a bounded area means that you are not broadcasting, although I suspect that playing modern music and attempting to compete with other licensed radio stations would also have something to do with it.
I had investigated getting such a license for use within the City Hall area where I live, which consists of a large park, and various service buildings including City Hall itself, a recreational centre, library, a public school, seniors centre and more. I was also hoping to push the definition of broadcasting as far as I could, by playing vintage music, old time radio, book readings and the like mixed in with local information and news. Unfortunately, I never did find an ISED agent who knew exactly how to apply for such a license - I was given at least 3 different application forms, none of which were the right ones - and eventually put the project on hold. If I got really serious about it, Decade apparently will assist you in getting the license (for a fee, of course).
RSS-123?? Never heard you metion that one before. Sounds like it's an equivalent to the US campus rules except it's for parks and plazas instead of educational organizations. -- oh wait, that's a licenced operation too. I thought the RSS rules were in reference to unlicensed operation. Ahh so confusing there...
Carried over from "an interesting transmitter"
@richpowers BETS(broadcast equipment technical standards) refers to broadcast equipment.
Which means you can target the public, your neighbourhood. The NOUO letter to the guy in Winnipeg was about broadcasting without a BETS transmitter and was told you need a BETS transmitter. Nothing was mentioned about programming content or anything else.
According to the owner of Decade you can use an MS-100 BETS-1 transmitter to broadcast any programming you want but nothing political or religious. And he has had dealings with the CRTC and ISED.
In the 25 years Decade has been making the MS-100 no one has ever had a visit and been told you can't use it unless it is just for announcements or for any other reason.
You can be a neighbourhood station and you can do announcements of interest to the community in the programming.
To fulfill that if someone is having a garage sale and I announce it on the radio I am fulfilling the criteria of doing announcements. At least that would be my defence if using a BETS transmitter and the unlikely event I get a visit. Nothing is in writing stating that it's announcements only. The written rule is "if" your programming includes announcements of a commercial nature...nothing political, religious, no rebroadcasting anything etc.
Artisan and I both have been using BETS-1 for local "stations". And AM RSS-210 transmitters also.
But the Procaster AM which I am using and is certified legal in Canada is being done from my place, for me first. Not like the guy in Winnipeg was. Being heard around the neighbourhood and beyond is a side effect. It operates as per rules and is approved by a lab authorized to do the testing. My argument if visited. After all, if it can't be used as I am using it where can you? And if I am told I am broadcasting....well I have two BETS transmitters here. But on FM.