Unlicensed White Space Devices

Published date19 July 2019
Citation84 FR 34792
Record Number2019-10921
SectionRules and Regulations
CourtFederal Communications Commission
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 139 (Friday, July 19, 2019)
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 139 (Friday, July 19, 2019)]
                [Rules and Regulations]
                [Pages 34792-34799]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2019-10921]
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                FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                47 CFR Parts 15 and 95
                [ET Docket No. 16-56, ET Docket No. 14-165, GN Docket No. 12-268, RM-
                11745, FCC 19-24]
                Unlicensed White Space Devices
                AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
                ACTION: Final rule.
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                SUMMARY: In the Report and Order, the Federal Communications Commission
                (Commission) takes steps to improve the accuracy and reliability of
                fixed white space device data recorded in the white space databases and
                assure that the potential for these devices to cause interference to
                protected services is minimized. In the Order on Reconsideration, the
                Commission modifies the white space device antenna height rules to
                allow improved broadband coverage in rural areas, and resolves certain
                outstanding white space reconsideration issues. White space devices are
                used to provide a variety of wireless services, including broadband
                data.
                DATES: Effective August 19, 2019, except for Sec. 95.2309, which is
                delayed. We will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing
                the effective date.
                ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW,
                Washington, DC 20554.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Hugh L. Van Tuyl at (202) 418-
                7506, or [email protected].
                [[Page 34793]]
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Report
                and Order and Order on Reconsideration, ET Docket No. 16-56, ET Docket
                No. 14-165, and RM-11745, FCC 19-24, adopted March 19, 2019 and
                released March 20, 2019. The full text of this document is available
                for public inspection and copying during normal business hours in the
                FCC Reference Center (Room CY-A257), 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC
                20554, or by downloading the text from the Commission's website at
                https://www.fcc.gov/document/amendment-part-15-rules-unlicensed-white-spaces-devices. Alternative formats are available for people with
                disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format) by
                sending an email to [email protected] or calling the Commission's Consumer
                and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-
                0432 (TTY).
                Synopsis
                Report and Order
                 1. In this Report and Order, the Commission adopts certain changes
                to the rules for fixed white space devices. Specifically, it requires
                all fixed white space devices to incorporate a geo-location capability
                such as GPS and eliminates the option that permitted the geographic
                coordinates of a fixed device to be determined by a professional
                installer. The Commission also will allow the use of external geo-
                location sources by a fixed white space device when the device is used
                at a location where its internal geo-location capability does not
                function, such as deep inside a building. In addition, the Commission
                will require fixed white space devices to periodically re-check their
                geographic coordinates at least once a day and report the coordinates
                to the white space database.
                 2. Fixed device location data--The Commission will require all
                fixed white space devices to include an internal geo-location
                capability to determine their geographic coordinates and require that
                fixed white space devices automatically provide their coordinates to
                the database when the device is registered. These actions will help
                ensure the accuracy of information provided to the white space
                database, thus reducing the likelihood of imprecise registered
                coordinates for fixed white space devices. These actions will also
                enable simpler ``do-it-yourself'' installations of certain fixed
                devices, such as those where a professional installer is not needed to
                mount an antenna on a tall structure. Additionally, these actions will
                provide a means for a fixed white space device to automatically re-
                establish its coordinates if they are lost or altered due to a power
                outage or equipment reboot. The Commission does not believe that these
                requirements are overly burdensome because manufacturers can
                incorporate a variety of location technologies into their devices. Many
                of these, such as GPS and Wi-Fi, are widely available at low cost.
                 3. External geo-location capability--The Commission will allow
                fixed white space devices to obtain their geographic coordinates
                through an external geo-location source when they are used at locations
                where their internal geo-location capability does not function, such as
                deep inside a building. It will allow an external geo-location source
                to be connected to a fixed device through either a wired or a wireless
                connection and allow a single geo-location source to provide location
                information to multiple fixed devices. The Commission will require that
                an external geo-location source be connected to a fixed device using a
                secure connection that ensures only an external geo-location source
                that has been approved with a particular fixed device can provide
                geographic coordinates to that device. Additionally, the Commission
                will allow the use of extender cables to connect a remote receive
                antenna to a geo-location receiver within a fixed device. For any of
                these scenarios, the Commission requires the applicant for equipment
                certification to demonstrate the location uncertainty with a confidence
                level of 95%, and that the device reports the location uncertainty
                correctly to the database. These changes will increase the flexibility
                that manufacturers have to develop fixed white space devices that can
                be used in a wide variety of locations while ensuring devices
                accurately determine their location and report it to the white space
                database to prevent harmful interference to protected services.
                 4. Geo-location accuracy requirement--The Commission does not make
                any changes to the location accuracy rules in the Report and Order. It
                affirms the location accuracy rules adopted in the TV White Spaces
                Order, 80 FR 73044, in the Order on Reconsideration.
                 5. Daily database contact to report geographic coordinates--The
                Commission requires that a fixed white space device verify its
                coordinates at least once per day, except when not in operation, and
                report its geographic location to the database when it makes a request
                for a list of available channels. This action serves to improve the
                accuracy of the coordinates that fixed white space devices report to
                the database by providing multiple observations that could be used to
                reduce the uncertainty of the device's location. It will also provide a
                safeguard that allows the coordinates to be re-established if they are
                inadvertently or deliberately altered. Because the daily re-check of
                coordinates and transmission of them to the white space database will
                be automatic, this change will not be burdensome on the users of fixed
                white space devices.
                 6. Re-registration of devices when moved or coordinates altered--
                The Commission requires that a fixed white space device's coordinates
                and antenna height above ground be re-established and the device
                registered with the database when it is moved or when its coordinates
                are altered by more than 50 meters from the last registered
                location. By limiting this requirement to location changes greater than
                50 meters, the Commission ensures that fixed devices will not have to
                re-register with the database repeatedly for small changes in
                coordinates that have no effect on channel availability. When a fixed
                device is moved, or its coordinates are changed by more than 50 meters,
                the database will have accurate information necessary to determine the
                channels available for use by the device.
                 7. Determining antenna height above ground--The Commission will not
                require that fixed white space devices automatically determine their
                antenna height above ground. Instead, the Commission will allow the
                installer or operator of the device to manually enter the height but
                will also provide the option for devices to determine their antenna
                height automatically. The accuracy of height measurements determined by
                GPS is lower than the accuracy of geographic coordinates determined by
                GPS, and a GPS receiver in a fixed white space device may be at a lower
                elevation than the transmit antenna, introducing sources of uncertainty
                into height determination. Given the current state of technology, the
                Commission finds it inappropriate to require white space devices and
                databases to use automatically determined antenna height information
                that may be in error at a particular location. Erroneous height data
                could preclude operation of a fixed device if the antenna height above
                ground reported to the database is outside of the allowable range. The
                Commission recognizes that improvements in technology in the future
                could enable white space devices to more accurately determine their
                antenna height above ground, so it provides the option for fixed white
                space devices to
                [[Page 34794]]
                automatically determine their antenna height above ground.
                 8. The Commission finds NAB's suggestion to allow the database to
                assume a 10-meter default antenna height when an automatically
                determined antenna height is out of range to be an inadequate method of
                compensating for errors. Thus, the Commission concludes that it should
                continue to permit the installer of a device to manually enter the
                antenna height above ground. While the Commission recognizes NAB's
                concern about potential errors in antenna heights entered by a
                professional installer, it believes that installers will generally be
                able to accurately determine the antenna height above ground. Further,
                minor errors in the reported antenna height above ground of a fixed
                white space device will in many cases have no impact on the protection
                of television services since the protection distances that a fixed
                device must meet are the same across ranges of antenna heights.
                 9. Transition provisions--The Commission requires that fixed white
                space devices that are approved by Telecommunication Certification
                Bodies (TCBs) beginning six months after the effective date of the
                rules adopted in this proceeding to comply with the new rules. The
                Commission also permits the continued marketing of previously approved
                devices that do not comply with the new rules until 18 months after the
                effective date of the rules. These deadlines provide sufficient time to
                develop compliant products and provide the industry with flexibility to
                tailor manufacturing and importation cutoff dates to suit the relevant
                circumstances. The 18-month marketing cutoff date also applies to
                parties other than the manufacturer, so owners of white space devices
                that do not comply with the new rules will not be permitted to re-sell
                the non-compliant devices after this date. The Commission does not
                establish any operational cutoff for users of previously approved fixed
                white space devices that do not comply with the new rules because the
                number of those devices is relatively small, as is the likelihood that
                they would cause interference.
                 10. Fixed device registration--The Commission requires that the
                operator of a fixed white space device be responsible for the accuracy
                of the registration information, because that is the party capable of
                shutting down the device as required by the part 15 rules in the event
                the device causes harmful interference. The operator could be the owner
                of the device or another party that has the capability to control and
                deactivate the device. The fixed device registration must therefore
                provide the contact information for the operator of the fixed device.
                The Commission permits a party such as a professional installer to
                submit the registration information on behalf of the owner or operator,
                but the operator of the device will ultimately be responsible for
                ensuring its accuracy.
                 11. Verification of registration information--The Commission
                declines to adopt its proposal to require database administrators to
                verify email addresses or phone numbers for fixed device registrations
                (81 FR 15210). The Commission believes this requirement is unnecessary
                and would be unduly burdensome for database operators because of the
                time and expense that would be required to redesign their systems to
                enable verification of contact information and to actually verify the
                information for each fixed device registration. The database
                administrators have already taken steps to ensure that operators of
                fixed white space devices supply all necessary information for a device
                registration and to reject information that is clearly erroneous.
                Additionally, requiring database administrators to hold new or modified
                registrations inactive until they verify the registrant's contact
                information could delay service to fixed white space device users.
                Order on Reconsideration
                 12. In this Order on Reconsideration, the Commission addresses
                several petitions for reconsideration of the actions it took in the TV
                White Spaces Order. The Commission affirms most of the its decisions,
                with the exception of increasing the maximum permissible fixed white
                space device antenna height above ground level in less congested areas.
                The Commission will address at a later time those petitions concerning
                push notifications and white space device operation on Channel 37. The
                Commission previously addressed petitions related to wireless
                microphones.
                Low Power Fixed Devices
                 13. Operation within adjacent channel television contours--The
                Commission denies NAB's request to reconsider the decision to permit
                fixed white space devices to operate with 40 milliwatts EIRP within the
                contour of adjacent channel television stations with an antenna height
                that does not exceed 10 meters above ground level. The Commission is
                not persuaded that permitting such operation poses a significant threat
                of harmful interference to adjacent channel television reception.
                Interference to television reception from an adjacent channel
                transmitter occurs when the signal from that transmitter is
                substantially greater than the received television signal level and is
                most likely to occur where the television signal is weak, such as at
                the edge of a station's coverage area where an outdoor directional
                rooftop television antenna would be needed to obtain good reception.
                The highest likelihood of harmful interference occurring would be when
                the main beams of both antennas are pointed towards each other when the
                devices are in close proximity. Because fixed white space devices must
                use directional antennas with a gain of at least 6 dBi to reach the 40-
                milliwatt EIRP level allowed by the rules, the Commission expects this
                to be a low probability event. Moreover, even if all factors were to
                align and create a worst-case situation, the Commission disagrees with
                NAB's claim that 160-meter separation would be required to protect
                television reception from a 40-milliwatt white space device. Using the
                -84 dBm threshold for a UHF-television signal and applying the -33 dB
                D/U ratio for adjacent channel interference and assuming worst-case
                free space loss, a 40-milliwatt white space device need only be
                separated from a television antenna by 88 meters; significantly less
                than the distance claimed by NAB. While the Commission recognizes that
                this distance is not de minimis, it notes that it is based on the low
                probability event of several worst-case conditions occurring
                simultaneously. The majority of over-the-air television reception
                occurs at higher signal levels than assumed here, and white space
                device signals are likely to attenuate faster than assumptions of free
                space propagation would indicate. Other factors are also likely to
                decrease the distance at which interference could occur, including the
                mismatch between the directivity of the white space transmit and the
                television receive antennas, and any intervening obstacles between the
                antennas. The Commission does not believe that the low probability case
                where all worst-case conditions occur simultaneously should lead it to
                adopt overly restrictive requirements, and points out that if a white
                space device causes harmful interference to television reception, it
                must remedy such interference up to and including ceasing operation.
                 14. Power limits--The Commission denies Microsoft's request to
                change the rule that requires fixed devices to use a directional
                antenna with at least 6 dBi gain in order to transmit at the 40-
                milliwatt limit. While in many situations an indoor 40-milliwatt fixed
                [[Page 34795]]
                device with an omnidirectional antenna would pose no more risk of
                interference than a personal/portable device operating at 40 milliwatts
                with an omnidirectional antenna, the Commission notes that in modifying
                the rules to allow low power fixed devices to operate inside the
                contour of an adjacent television channel, it relied on the directional
                antenna requirement to ensure a low probability for causing
                interference. The Commission further notes that devices do not specify
                to the database whether operation is indoors or outdoors, so there is
                no way to distinguish such operations and permit omnidirectional
                antennas indoors and require directional antennas outdoors. Because the
                Commission requires all fixed devices to incorporate a geo-location
                capability and comply with minimum separation distances from registered
                licensed wireless microphones, it disagrees with Shure's contention
                that a fixed white space device that operates indoors would have any
                greater potential for causing interference to wireless microphones than
                fixed devices used outdoors.
                 15. The Commission concludes that it is unnecessary to address
                whether in-home wireless routers are fixed devices and consequently
                whether moving a router from one area of a house to another would be a
                de minimis change in location that would require professional re-
                installation.
                 16. Operation on contiguous channels--The Commission denies
                Carlson/Cal.net's request to increase the maximum allowable power above
                100 milliwatts EIRP for fixed white space devices that operate on two
                or more contiguous vacant channels with a three-megahertz frequency
                separation from occupied adjacent television channels. Carlson/Cal.net
                does not explain what it believes to be the correct interference
                analysis assumptions, and does not justify its assertion that
                orthogonal polarization between a white space device transmit antenna
                and a television receive antenna will result in 12-15 dB of signal
                attenuation. Carlson/Cal.net indicates that it has not performed
                testing to demonstrate whether fixed white space devices could operate
                at four watts EIRP without causing interference to television reception
                when operating with only three-megahertz frequency separation from an
                occupied adjacent television channel, and no other party has provided
                relevant test results. For those reasons, the Commission upholds its
                decision to limit fixed white space devices that operate on contiguous
                vacant channels to 100 milliwatts EIRP, or to 50 milliwatts EIRP on a
                channel with a three-megahertz frequency separation from an occupied
                adjacent television channel.
                 17. Variable power levels--The Commission denies NAB's request to
                make certain modifications to the rules intended to ensure that white
                space devices operate only on authorized channels and at authorized
                power levels. It declines to require white space devices to report
                their operating channels and power levels to the database, noting that
                it previously considered and rejected a similar request and stating
                that NAB has not provided any information that would persuade the
                Commission to change its previous decision. The Commission disagrees
                with NAB that the rules provide no guidance or mechanisms to ensure
                that white space devices will operate as required. It notes that both
                fixed and Mode II personal/portable devices are subject to requirements
                that operation is permitted only on channels and at power levels that
                are indicated in the database as being available for the device, and
                that operation on a channel must cease immediately or power must be
                reduced to a permissible level if the database indicates that the
                channel is no longer available at the current operating level. The
                Commission also notes that white space devices may not contain an
                interface that allows users to select higher power levels than the
                database indicates are available for a channel at a given location, and
                that a manufacturer must demonstrate that a white space device will
                comply with these requirements in order to obtain certification for the
                device. Thus, the Commission concludes that it does not need to impose
                additional requirements on white space devices to implement the rules
                that allow operation at a variety of power levels.
                Fixed White Space Device Antennas
                 18. Antenna height above ground level and average terrain--The
                Commission grants WISPA's request to increase the maximum allowable
                antenna height above ground for fixed white space devices, but denies
                its request to increase the maximum antenna height above average
                terrain. The increase in allowable fixed white space device antenna
                height above ground level from 30 meters to 100 meters in less
                congested areas will allow for improved wireless broadband service to
                persons in rural and other underserved areas. A 100-meter height above
                ground level limit will permit antennas to be mounted on towers or
                other structures at heights sufficient to clear intervening obstacles
                such as trees and hills that would attenuate the transmitted signal,
                thereby increasing the range at which the signal can be received. Less
                congested areas will have many vacant channels and therefore a low
                likelihood that increased antenna height above ground level would
                affect other operations in the television bands. The Commission may
                consider increasing the antenna height above average terrain limit in
                the future if it has a more complete record addressing this issue.
                 19. Antenna Directivity--The Commission denies WISPA's request for
                reconsideration of its decision to prohibit television white space
                databases from considering fixed device antenna directivity in
                determining channel availability. The Commission lacks sufficient
                information to develop rules that would ensure that television and
                other services are protected from harmful interference. Allowing
                consideration of directional antenna patterns would add additional
                complexity to the operation of fixed devices and the white space
                databases, since there are many factors that would have to be
                addressed. The database would have to contain information describing
                fixed white space device antenna patterns, and the Commission may need
                to specify additional requirements such the size of the arc over which
                white space devices must limit their power or minimum separation
                distances at additional power levels. Additionally, the Commission
                would need to address how to ensure that the orientation of a
                directional antenna is accurately reported to the white space database.
                The Commission could consider this issue again in the future.
                 20. Geo-location accuracy requirement--The Commission denies NAB's
                request to modify the location uncertainty rules. It finds that NAB's
                request to limit the maximum geo-location uncertainty to 100 meters is overly restrictive and would eliminate most of the
                flexibility that the Commission provided in adopting this rule since it
                would allow only an additional 50 meters of uncertainty for less
                precise location technologies. The Commission disagrees with NAB that
                it is necessary to specify an upper limit on location uncertainty.
                Because a higher location uncertainty requires an increase in
                separation distances from protected services, manufacturers will have
                an incentive to determine a device's location as precisely as possible
                to maximize the number of channels that a device can use.
                 21. The Commission does not believe it is necessary to modify the
                rules to require the use of the ETSI EN 301 598
                [[Page 34796]]
                standard for determining a device's location accuracy. It expects that
                many manufacturers may wish to use this standard because it addresses
                measurements they need to make, but does not want to preclude the use
                of other standards or measurement methods that may be developed in the
                future.
                Procedural Matters
                 22. Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis.--The Final Regulatory
                Flexibility Analysis, required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act, see 5
                U.S.C. 604, is contained in Appendix D of the Report and Order and
                Order of Reconsideration.
                 23. Paperwork Reduction Act.--This document contains modified
                information collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction
                Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13. It will be submitted to the
                Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under Section 3507(d)
                of the PRA. OMB, the general public, and other Federal agencies will be
                invited to comment on the new or modified information collection
                requirements contained in this proceeding. In addition, we note that
                pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law
                107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4), we previously sought specific
                comment on how the Commission might further reduce the information
                collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25
                employees.
                 24. The Commission has assessed the effects of the policies adopted
                in this Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration with regard to
                information collection burdens on small business concerns, and find
                that these policies will benefit many companies with fewer than 25
                employees by providing unlicensed white space devices and unlicensed
                wireless microphones with access to spectrum in the television
                broadcasting band and the 600 MHz band, while at the same time
                protecting licensed users from harmful interference. In addition, we
                have described impacts that might affect small businesses, which
                includes most businesses with fewer than 25 employees, in the Final
                Regulatory Flexibility Analysis in Appendix D of the Report and Order
                and Order of Reconsideration.
                 25. Congressional Review Act.--The Commission will send a copy of
                this Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration to Congress and the
                Government Accountability Office pursuant to the Congressional Review
                Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
                Ordering Clauses
                 26. It is ordered that, pursuant to the authority contained in
                sections 4(i), 302, 303(b), (c), (e), (f), (r), and 307 of the
                Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and sections 6403 and 6407 of
                the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, Public Law
                112-96, 126 Stat. 156, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 302, 303(b), (c), (e), (f),
                (r), 307, 1452, 1454, this Report and Order and Order on
                Reconsideration is hereby adopted.
                 27. It is further ordered that part 15 of the Commission's rules is
                amended as specified below, and such rule amendments will become
                effective 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal
                Register.
                 28. It is further ordered that the Commission's Consumer and
                Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, shall send a
                copy of the Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration, including
                the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, to the Chief Counsel for
                Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
                 29. It is further ordered that the Commission shall send a copy of
                the Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration in a report to be
                sent to Congress and the Government Accountability Office pursuant to
                the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
                List of Subjects
                47 CFR Part 15
                 Communications equipment, Radio, Reporting and recordkeeping
                requirements.
                47 CFR Part 95
                 Communications equipment, Radio.
                Federal Communications Commission.
                Marlene Dortch,
                Secretary.
                Final Rules
                 For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal
                Communications Commission amends 47 CFR parts 15 and 95 as follows:
                PART 15--RADIO FREQUENCY DEVICES
                0
                1. The authority citation for part 15 continues to read as follows:
                 Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 302a, 303, 304, 307, 336, 544a, and
                549.
                0
                2. Section 15.37 is amended by revising the section heading and adding
                paragraph (q) to read as follows:
                Sec. 15.37 Transition provisions for compliance with this part.
                * * * * *
                 (q) All fixed white space devices which are approved by
                Telecommunication Certification Bodies on or after February 19, 2020 or
                that are marketed on or after February 19, 2021 shall comply with the
                requirements of Sec. 15.711(c). Fixed white space devices which are
                approved or marketed before the dates in the preceding sentence shall
                comply with either the requirements of Sec. 15.711(c) or the
                requirements of Sec. 15.711(c) as in effect prior to August 19, 2019
                (see 47 CFR part 15 as revised October 1, 2018).
                0
                3. Section 15.703 is amended by revising paragraphs (a), (b), and (c),
                removing the note to paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), and revising
                paragraphs (o) and (r) to read as follows:
                Sec. 15.703 Definitions.
                 (a) 600 MHz duplex gap. An 11 megahertz guard band at 652-663 MHz
                that separates part 27 600 MHz service uplink and downlink frequencies.
                 (b) 600 MHz guard band. Designated frequency band at 614-617 MHz
                that prevents interference between licensed services in the 600 MHz
                service band and channel 37.
                 (c) 600 MHz service band. Frequencies in the 617-652 MHz and 663-
                698 MHz bands that are reallocated and reassigned for 600 MHz band
                services under part 27 of this chapter.
                * * * * *
                 (o) Sensing only device. A personal/portable white space device
                that uses spectrum sensing to determine a list of available channels.
                Sensing only devices may transmit on any available channels in the
                frequency bands 512-608 MHz (TV channels 21-36).
                * * * * *
                 (r) Television bands. The broadcast television frequency bands at
                54-72 MHz (TV channels 2-4), 76-88 MHz (TV channels 5-6), 174-216 MHz
                (TV channels 7-13) and 470-608 MHz (channels 14-36).
                * * * * *
                0
                4. Section 15.707 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as
                follows:
                Sec. 15.707 Permissible channels of operation.
                 (a)(1) 470-698 MHz band. All white space devices are permitted to
                operate on available channels in the frequency bands 470-698 MHz (TV
                channels 14-51), subject to the interference protection requirements in
                Sec. Sec. 15.711 and 15.712.
                 (2) 600 MHz duplex gap. White space devices may operate in the 657-
                663 MHz segment of the 600 MHz duplex gap.
                 (3) 600 MHz service band. White space devices may operate on
                [[Page 34797]]
                frequencies in the bands 617-652 MHz and 663-698 MHz in areas where 600
                MHz band licensees have not commenced operations, as defined in Sec.
                27.4 of this chapter.
                 (4) Channel 37 guard band. White space devices are not permitted to
                operate in the band 614-617 MHz.
                * * * * *
                0
                5. Section 15.709 is amended by revising paragraphs (a)(3), (b)(1) and
                (2), and (g)(1)(i) to read as follows:
                Sec. 15.709 General technical requirements.
                 (a) * * *
                 (3) 608-614 MHz band (channel 37). Up to 40 mW (16 dBm) EIRP.
                * * * * *
                 (b) * * *
                 (1) Fixed white space devices. (i) Technical limits for fixed white
                space devices are shown in the table in paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this
                section and subject to the requirements of this section.
                 (ii) For operation at EIRP levels of 36 dBm (4,000 mW) or less,
                fixed white space devices may operate at EIRP levels between the values
                shown in the table in paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section provided
                that the conducted power and the conducted power spectral density (PSD)
                limits are linearly interpolated between the values shown and the
                adjacent channel emission limit of the higher value shown in the table
                is met. Operation at EIRP levels above 36 dBm (4,000 mW) shall follow
                the requirements for 40 dBm (10,000 mW).
                 (iii) The conducted power spectral density from a fixed white space
                device shall not be greater than the values shown in the table in this
                paragraph (b)(1)(iii) when measured in any 100 kHz band during any time
                interval of continuous transmission.
                 Table 1 to Paragraph (b)(1)(iii)
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Conducted adjacent
                 Conducted power limit (6 Conducted PSD limit channel emission
                 EIRP (6 MHz) MHz) (100 kHz) (dBm) limit (100 kHz)
                 (dBm)
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                16 dBm (40 mW)........................... 10 dBm (10 mW)............. -7.4 -62.8
                20 dBm (100 mW).......................... 14 dBm (25 mW)............. -3.4 -58.8
                24 dBm (250 mW).......................... 18 dBm (63 mW)............. 0.6 -54.8
                28 dBm (625 mW).......................... 22 dBm (158 mW)............ 4.6 -50.8
                32 dBm (1,600 mW)........................ 26 dBm (400 mW)............ 8.6 -46.8
                36 dBm (4,000 mW)........................ 30 dBm (1,000 mW).......... 12.6 -42.8
                40 dBm (10,000 mW)....................... 30 dBm (1,000 mW).......... 12.6 -42.8
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (2) Personal/portable white space devices. (i) Technical limits for
                personal/portable white space devices are shown in the table in
                paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section and subject to the requirements of
                this section.
                 (ii) The radiated power spectral density from a personal/portable
                white space device shall not be greater than the values shown in the
                table in this paragraph (b)(2)(ii) when measured in any 100 kHz band
                during any time interval of continuous transmission.
                 Table 2 to Paragraph (b)(2)(ii)
                ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Radiated adjacent
                 Radiated PSD limit channel emission
                 EIRP (6 MHz) EIRP (100 kHz) limit EIRP (100
                 (dBm) kHz) (dBm)
                ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                16 dBm (40 mW)................ -1.4 -56.8
                20 dBm (100 mW)............... 2.6 -52.8
                ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                * * * * *
                 (g) Antenna requirements--(1) Fixed white space devices--(i) Above
                ground level. The transmit antenna height shall not exceed 100 meters
                above ground level in less congested areas or 30 meters above ground
                level in other areas, except that the antenna height may not exceed 10
                meters above ground level in any area for fixed white space devices
                operating in the TV bands at 40 mW EIRP or less or operating across
                multiple contiguous TV channels at 100 mW EIRP or less.
                * * * * *
                0
                6. Section 15.711 is amended by revising paragraphs (c)(1) introductory
                text and (c)(1)(i), adding paragraphs (c)(1)(iii) and (iv), and
                revising paragraph (c)(2)(iii) to read as follows:
                Sec. 15.711 Interference avoidance methods.
                * * * * *
                 (c) Requirements for fixed white space devices. (1) The geographic
                coordinates of a fixed white space device shall be determined at the
                time of installation and first activation from a power off condition by
                an incorporated geo-location capability. The antenna height above
                ground shall be determined by the installer or operator of the device,
                or by an automatic means. This information shall be stored internally
                in the white space device and transmitted automatically by the device
                to the white space database. The operator of a fixed white space device
                shall be responsible for assuring the accuracy of the information
                registered in the white space database. If a fixed white space device
                is moved to another location or if its stored coordinates become
                altered, the operator shall reestablish the device's:
                 (i) Geographic location through the incorporated geo-location
                capability and the antenna height above ground level and store this
                information in the white space device; and
                * * * * *
                 (iii) A fixed white space device may obtain its geographic
                coordinates through an external geo-location source when it is used at
                a location where its internal geo-location capability does not
                [[Page 34798]]
                function. An external geo-location source may be connected to a fixed
                device through either a wired or a wireless connection, and a single
                geo-location source may provide location information to multiple fixed
                devices. An external geo-location source must be connected to a fixed
                device using a secure connection that ensures that only an external
                geo-location source that has been approved with a particular fixed
                device can provide geographic coordinates to that device. The
                geographic coordinates must be provided automatically by the external
                geo-location source to the fixed device; users may not manually enter
                them. Alternatively, an extender cable may be used to connect a remote
                receive antenna to a geo-location receiver within a fixed device.
                 (iv) The applicant for certification of a fixed device must
                demonstrate the accuracy of the geo-location method used and the
                location uncertainty as defined in paragraph (b) of this section. For
                fixed devices that are not using an internal geo-location capability,
                this uncertainty must account for the accuracy of the geo-location
                source and the separation distance between such source and the white
                space device.
                 (2) * * *
                 (iii) Each fixed white space device shall access the database at
                least once a day to verify that the operating channels continue to
                remain available. Each fixed white space device must adjust its use of
                channels in accordance with channel availability schedule information
                provided by its database for the 48-hour period beginning at the time
                the device last accessed the database for a list of available channels.
                The fixed device's registration information shall be updated if the
                geographic coordinates reported to the database differ by more than
                50 meters from the previously registered coordinates.
                * * * * *
                0
                7. Section 15.712 is amended by revising paragraph (j) to read as
                follows:
                Sec. 15.712 Interference protection requirements.
                * * * * *
                 (j) Wireless Medical Telemetry Service. (1) White space devices
                operating in the 608-614 MHz band (channel 37) are not permitted to
                operate within an area defined by the polygon described in Sec.
                15.713(j)(11) plus the distances specified in the tables in this
                paragraph (j)(1):
                 (i) Mode II personal/portable white space devices.
                 Table 23 to Paragraph (j)(1)(i)
                ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Required co-channel
                 separation distances in
                 kilometers from edge of
                 polygon
                 -------------------------
                 16 dBm (40 mW)
                ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Communicating with Mode II or Fixed device.... 0.38
                Communicating with Mode I device.............. 0.76
                ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (ii) Fixed white space devices, except that when communicating with
                Mode I personal/portable white space devices, the required separation
                distances must be increased beyond the specified distances by 0.38
                kilometers.
                 Table 24 to Paragraph (j)(1)(ii)
                ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Required co-channel
                 separation distances in
                 Antenna height above average terrain of kilometers from edge of
                 unlicensed devices (meters) polygon
                 -------------------------
                 16 dBm (40 mW)
                ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Less than 3................................... 0.38
                3-10.......................................... 0.70
                10-30......................................... 1.20
                30-50......................................... 1.55
                50-75......................................... 1.90
                75-100........................................ 2.20
                100-150....................................... 2.70
                150-200....................................... 3.15
                200-250....................................... 3.50
                ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (2) White space devices operating in the 602-608 MHz band (channel
                36) and 614-620 MHz band (channel 38) are not permitted to operate
                within an area defined by the polygon described in Sec. 15.713(j)(11)
                plus the distances specified in the tables in this paragraph (j)(2):
                 (i) Mode II personal/portable white space devices.
                [[Page 34799]]
                 Table 25 to Paragraph (j)(2)(i)
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Required adjacent channel separation distances in
                 meters from edge of polygon
                 ---------------------------------------------------
                 16 dBm (40 mW) 20 dBm (100 mW)
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Communicating with Mode II or Fixed device.................. 8 13
                Communicating with Mode I device............................ 16 26
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (ii) Fixed white space devices, except that when communicating with
                Mode I personal/portable white space devices, the required separation
                distances must be increased beyond the specified distances by 8 meters
                if the Mode I device operates at power levels no more than 40 mW EIRP,
                or 13 meters if the Mode I device operates at power levels above 40 mW
                EIRP.
                 Table 26 to Paragraph (j)(2)(ii)
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Required adjacent channel separation distances in meters from edge of polygon
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 20 dBm (100 24 dBm (250 28 dBm (625 32 dBm (1600 36 dBm (4
                 16 dBm (40 mW) mW) mW) mW) mW) watts)
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                8......................................... 13 20 32 50 71
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                * * * * *
                0
                8. Section 15.713 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(1) to read as
                follows:
                Sec. 15.713 White space database.
                 (a) * * *
                 (1) To determine and provide to a white space device, upon request,
                the available channels at the white space device's location in the TV
                bands, the 600 MHz duplex gap, the 600 MHz service band, and 608-614
                MHz (channel 37). Available channels are determined based on the
                interference protection requirements in Sec. 15.712. A database must
                provide fixed and Mode II personal portable white space devices with
                channel availability information that includes scheduled changes in
                channel availability over the course of the 48-hour period beginning at
                the time the white space devices make a recheck contact. In making
                lists of available channels available to a white space device, the
                white space database shall ensure that all communications and
                interactions between the white space database and the white space
                device include adequate security measures such that unauthorized
                parties cannot access or alter the white space database or the list of
                available channels sent to white space devices or otherwise affect the
                database system or white space devices in performing their intended
                functions or in providing adequate interference protections to
                authorized services operating in the TV bands, the 600 MHz duplex gap,
                the 600 MHz service band, and 608-614 MHz (channel 37). In addition, a
                white space database must also verify that the FCC identifier (FCC ID)
                of a device seeking access to its services is valid; under the
                requirement in this paragraph (a)(1) the white space database must also
                verify that the FCC ID of a Mode I device provided by a fixed or Mode
                II device is valid. A list of devices with valid FCC IDs and the FCC
                IDs of those devices is to be obtained from the Commission's Equipment
                Authorization System.
                * * * * *
                0
                9. Section 15.714 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as
                follows:
                Sec. 15.714 White space database administration fees.
                 (a) A white space database administrator may charge a fee for
                provision of lists of available channels to fixed and personal/portable
                devices and for registering fixed devices. This paragraph (a) applies
                to devices that operate in the TV bands, the 600 MHz service band, the
                600 MHz duplex gap, and 608-614 MHz (channel 37).
                * * * * *
                PART 95--PERSONAL RADIO SERVICES
                0
                10. The authority citation for part 95 continues to read as follows:
                 Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 307.
                0
                11. Section 95.2309 is amended by adding paragraph (h) to read as
                follows:
                Sec. 95.2309 WMTS frequency coordination.
                * * * * *
                 (h) Obtaining interference protection. To receive interference
                protection, parties operating WMTS networks in the 608-614 MHz
                frequency band shall notify one of the white space database
                administrators of their operating location pursuant to Sec. Sec.
                15.713(j)(11) and 15.715(p) of this chapter.
                [FR Doc. 2019-10921 Filed 7-18-19; 8:45 am]
                 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
                

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