Unlicensed White Space Devices, 34792-34799 [2019-10921]

Agencies

• FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[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