Goto Section: 15.712 | 15.714 | Table of Contents
FCC 15.713
Revised as of October 1, 2016
Goto Year:2015 |
2017
§ 15.713 White space database.
(a) Purpose. The white space database serves the following functions:
(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 guard bands, the 600 MHz duplex gap, the 600 MHz
service band, and channel 37. Available channels are determined based
on the interference protection requirements in § 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 re-check 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. 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 this requirement
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.
(2) To determine and provide to an unlicensed wireless microphone user,
upon request, the available channels at the microphone user's location
in the 600 MHz guard bands, the 600 MHz duplex gap, and the 600 MHz
service band. Available channels are determined based on the
interference protection requirements in § 15.236.
(3) To register the identification information and location of fixed
white space devices and unlicensed wireless microphone users.
(4) To register protected locations and channels as specified in
paragraph (b)(2) of this section, that are not otherwise recorded in
Commission licensing databases.
(b) Information in the white space database. (1) Facilities already
recorded in Commission databases. Identifying and location information
will come from the official Commission database. These services
include:
(i) Digital television stations.
(ii) Class A television stations.
(iii) Low power television stations.
(iv) Television translator and booster stations.
(v) Broadcast Auxiliary Service stations (including receive only
sites), except low power auxiliary stations.
(vi) Private land mobile radio service stations.
(vii) Commercial mobile radio service stations.
(viii) Offshore radiotelephone service stations.
(ix) Class A television station receive sites.
(x) Low power television station receive sites.
(xi) Television translator station receive sites.
(2) Facilities that are not recorded in Commission databases.
Identifying and location information will be entered into the white
space database in accordance with the procedures established by the
white space database administrator(s). These include:
(i) MVPD receive sites.
(ii) Sites where low power auxiliary stations, including wireless
microphones and wireless assist video devices, are used and their
schedule for operation.
(iii) Fixed white space device registrations.
(iv) 600 MHz service band operations in areas where the part 27 600 MHz
service licensee has commenced operations, as defined in § 27.4 of this
chapter.
(v) Locations of health care facilities that use WMTS equipment
operating on channel 37 (608-614 MHz).
(c) Restrictions on registration. (1) Television translator, low power
TV and Class A station receive sites within the protected contour of
the station being received are not eligible for registration in the
database.
(2) MVPD receive sites within the protected contour or more than 80
kilometers from the nearest edge of the protected contour of a
television station being received are not eligible to register that
station's channel in the database.
(d) Determination of available channels. The white space database will
determine the available channels at a location using the interference
protection requirements of § 15.712, the location information supplied
by a white space device, and the data for protected stations/locations
in the database.
(e) White space device initialization. (1) Fixed and Mode II white
space devices must provide their location and required identifying
information to the white space database in accordance with the
provisions of this subpart.
(2) Fixed and Mode II white space devices shall not transmit unless
they receive, from the white space database, a list of available
channels and may only transmit on the available channels on the list
provided by the database.
(3) Fixed white space devices register and receive a list of available
channels from the database by connecting to the Internet, either
directly or through another fixed white space device that has a direct
connection to the Internet.
(4) Mode II white space devices receive a list of available channels
from the database by connecting to the Internet, either directly or
through a fixed or Mode II white space device that has a direct
connection to the Internet.
(5) A fixed or Mode II white space device that provides a list of
available channels to a Mode I device shall notify the database of the
FCC identifier of such Mode I device and receive verification that that
FCC identifier is valid before providing the list of available channels
to the Mode I device.
(6) A fixed device with an antenna height above ground that exceeds 30
meters or an antenna height above average terrain (HAAT) that exceeds
250 meters shall not be provided a list of available channels. The HAAT
is to be calculated using computational software employing the
methodology in § 73.684(d) of this chapter.
(f) Unlicensed wireless microphone database access. Unlicensed wireless
microphone users in the 600 MHz band may register with and access the
database manually via a separate Internet connection. Wireless
microphone users must register with and check a white space database to
determine available channels prior to beginning operation at a given
location. A user must re-check the database for available channels if
it moves to another location.
(g) Fixed white space device registration. (1) Prior to operating for
the first time or after changing location, a fixed white space device
must register with the white space database by providing the
information listed in paragraph (g)(3) of this section.
(2) The party responsible for a fixed white space device must ensure
that the white space device registration database has the most current,
up-to-date information for that device.
(3) The white space device registration database shall contain the
following information for fixed white space devices:
(i) FCC identifier (FCC ID) of the device;
(ii) Manufacturer's serial number of the device;
(iii) Device's geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude (NAD
83));
(iv) Device's antenna height above ground level (meters);
(v) Name of the individual or business that owns the device;
(vi) Name of a contact person responsible for the device's operation;
(vii) Address for the contact person;
(viii) Email address for the contact person;
(ix) Phone number for the contact person.
(h) Mode II personal/portable device information to database. A
personal/portable device operating in Mode II shall provide the
database its FCC Identifier (as required by § 2.926 of this chapter),
serial number as assigned by the manufacturer, and the device's
geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude (NAD 83)).
(i) Unlicensed wireless microphone registration. Unlicensed wireless
microphone users in the 600 MHz band shall register with the database
prior to operation and include the following information:
(1) Name of the individual or business that owns the unlicensed
wireless microphone
(2) Address for the contact person
(3) Email address for the contact person
(4) Phone number for the contact person; and
(5) Coordinates where the device will be used (latitude and longitude
in NAD 83).
(j) White space database information. The white space database shall
contain the listed information for each of the following:
(1) Digital television stations, digital and analog Class A, low power,
translator and booster stations, including stations in Canada and
Mexico that are within the border coordination areas as specified in
§ 73.1650 of this chapter (a white space database is to include only TV
station information from station license or license application
records. In cases where a station has records for both a license
application and a license, a white space database should include the
information from the license application rather than the license. In
cases where there are multiple license application records or license
records for the same station, the database is to include the most
recent records, and again with license applications taking precedence
over licenses.):
(i) Transmitter coordinates (latitude and longitude in NAD 83);
(ii) radiated power (ERP);
(iii) Height above average terrain of the transmitting antenna (HAAT);
(iv) Horizontal transmit antenna pattern (if the antenna is
directional);
(v) Amount of electrical and mechanical beam tilt (degrees depression
below horizontal) and orientation of mechanical beam tilt (degrees
azimuth clockwise from true north);
(vi) Channel number; and
(vii) Station call sign.
(2) Broadcast Auxiliary Service.
(i) Transmitter coordinates (latitude and longitude in NAD 83).
(ii) Receiver coordinates (latitude and longitude in NAD 83).
(iii) Channel number.
(iv) Call sign.
(3) Metropolitan areas listed in § 90.303(a) of this chapter.
(i) Region name.
(ii) Channel(s) reserved for use in the region.
(iii) Geographic center of the region (latitude and longitude in NAD
83).
(iv) Call sign.
(4) PLMRS/CMRS base station operations located more than 80 km from the
geographic centers of the 13 metropolitan areas defined in § 90.303(a)
of this chapter (e.g., in accordance with a waiver).
(i) Transmitter location (latitude and longitude in NAD 83) or
geographic area of operations.
(ii) TV channel of operation.
(iii) Call sign.
(5) Offshore Radiotelephone Service: For each of the four regions where
the Offshore Radiotelephone Service operates.
(i) Geographic boundaries of the region (latitude and longitude in NAD
83 for each point defining the boundary of the region.
(ii) Channel(s) used by the service in that region.
(6) MVPD receive sites: Registration for receive sites is limited to
channels that are received over-the-air and are used as part of the
MVPD service.
(i) Name and address of MVPD company;
(ii) Location of the MVPD receive site (latitude and longitude in NAD
83, accurate to ±50 m);
(iii) Channel number of each television channel received, subject to
the following condition: channels for which the MVPD receive site is
located within the protected contour of that channel's transmitting
station are not eligible for registration in the database;
(iv) Call sign of each television channel received and eligible for
registration;
(v) Location (latitude and longitude) of the transmitter of each
television channel received;
(7) Television translator, low power TV and Class A TV station receive
sites: Registration for television translator, low power TV and Class A
receive sites is limited to channels that are received over-the-air and
are used as part of the station's service.
(i) Call sign of the TV translator station;
(ii) Location of the TV translator receive site (latitude and longitude
in NAD 83, accurate to ±/− 50 m);
(iii) Channel number of the re-transmitted television station, subject
to the following condition: a channel for which the television
translator receive site is located within the protected contour of that
channel's transmitting station is not eligible for registration in the
database;
(iv) Call sign of the retransmitted television station; and
(v) Location (latitude and longitude) of the transmitter of the
retransmitted television station.
(8) Licensed low power auxiliary stations, including wireless
microphones and wireless assist video devices: Use of licensed low
power auxiliary stations at well-defined times and locations may be
registered in the database. Multiple registrations that specify more
than one point in the facility may be entered for very large sites.
Registrations will be valid for no more than one year, after which they
may be renewed. Registrations must include the following information:
(i) Name of the individual or business responsible for the low power
auxiliary device(s);
(ii) An address for the contact person;
(iii) An email address for the contact person (optional);
(iv) A phone number for the contact person;
(v) Coordinates where the device(s) are used (latitude and longitude in
NAD 83, accurate to ±50 m);
(vi) Channels used by the low power auxiliary devices operated at the
site;
(vii) Specific months, weeks, days of the week and times when the
device(s) are used (on dates when microphones are not used the site
will not be protected); and
(viii) The stations call sign.
(9) Unlicensed wireless microphones at venues of events and
productions/shows that use large numbers of wireless microphones that
cannot be accommodated in the two reserved channels and other channels
that are not available for use by white space devices at that location.
Prior to June 23, 2017, but no later than release of the Channel
Reassignment Public Notice upon completion of the broadcast television
spectrum incentive auction, as defined in § 73.3700(a) of this chapter,
sites of large events and productions/shows with significant unlicensed
wireless microphone use at well-defined times and locations may be
registered in the database. Entities responsible for eligible event
venues registering their site with a TV bands data base are required to
first make use of the two reserved channels and other channels that are
not available for use by white space devices at that location. As a
benchmark, at least 6-8 wireless microphones should be operating in
each channel used at such venues (both licensed and unlicensed wireless
microphones used at the event may be counted to comply with this
benchmark). Multiple registrations that specify more than one point in
the facility may be entered for very large sites. Sites of eligible
event venues using unlicensed wireless microphones must be registered
with the Commission at least 30 days in advance and the Commission will
provide this information to the data base managers. Parties responsible
for eligible event venues filing registration requests must certify
that they are making use of all TV channels not available to white
space devices and on which wireless microphones can practicably be
used, including channels 7-51 (except channel 37). The Commission will
make requests for registration of sites that use unlicensed wireless
microphones public and will provide an opportunity for public comment
or objections. Registrations will be valid for one year, after which
they may be renewed. The Commission will take actions against parties
that file inaccurate or incomplete information, such as denial of
registration in the database, removal of information from the database
pursuant to paragraph (i) of this section, or other sanctions as
appropriate to ensure compliance with the rules. Registrations must
include the following information:
(i) Name of the individual or business that owns the unlicensed
wireless microphones;
(ii) An address for the contact person;
(iii) An email address for the contact person (optional);
(iv) A phone number for the contact person;
(v) Coordinates where the device(s) are used (latitude and longitude in
NAD 83, accurate to ±50 m);
(vi) Channels used by the wireless microphones operated at the site and
the number of wireless microphones used in each channel. As a
benchmark, least 6-8 wireless microphones must be used in each channel.
Registration requests that do not meet this criteria will not be
registered in the TV bands data bases;
(vii) Specific months, weeks, days of the week and times when the
device(s) are used (on dates when microphones are not used the site
will not be protected); and
(viii) The name of the venue.
(10) 600 MHz service in areas where the part 27 600 MHz band licensee
has commenced operations, as defined in § 27.4 of this chapter:
(i) Name of 600 MHz band licensee;
(ii) Name and address of the contact person;
(iii) An email address for the contact person (optional);
(iv) A phone number for the contact person;
(v) Area within a part 27 600 MHz band licensee's Partial Economic
Areas (PEA), as defined in § 27.6 of this chapter, where it has
commenced operation. This area must be delineated by at minimum of
eight and a maximum of 120 geographic coordinates (latitude and
longitude in NAD 83, accurate to ±50 m);
(vi) Date of commencement of operations;
(vii) Identification of the frequencies on which the part 27 600 MHz
band licensee has commenced operations;
(viii) Call sign.
(11) Location of health care facilities operating WMTS networks on
channel 37 (608-614 MHz):
(i) Name and address of the health care facility;
(ii) Name and address of a contact person;
(iii) Phone number of a contact person;
(iv) Email address of a contact person;
(v) Latitude and longitude coordinates referenced to North American
Datum 1983 (NAD 83) that define the perimeter of each facility. If
several health care facilities using 608-614 MHz wireless medical
telemetry equipment are located in close proximity, it is permissible
to register a perimeter to protect all facilities in that cluster.
(k) Commission requests for data. (1) A white space database
administrator must provide to the Commission, upon request, any
information contained in the database.
(2) A white space database administrator must remove information from
the database, upon direction, in writing, by the Commission.
(l) Security. The white space database shall employ protocols and
procedures to ensure that all communications and interactions between
the white space database and white space devices are accurate and
secure and that unauthorized parties cannot access or alter the
database or the list of available channels sent to a white space
device.
(1) Communications between white space devices and white space
databases, and between different white space databases, shall be secure
to prevent corruption or unauthorized interception of data. A white
space database shall be protected from unauthorized data input or
alteration of stored data.
(2) A white space database shall verify that the FCC identification
number supplied by a fixed or personal/portable white space device is
for a certified device and may not provide service to an uncertified
device.
(3) A white space database must not provide lists of available channels
to uncertified white space devices for purposes of operation (it is
acceptable for a white space database to distribute lists of available
channels by means other than contact with white space devices to
provide list of channels for operation). To implement this provision, a
white space database administrator shall obtain a list of certified
white space devices from the FCC Equipment Authorization System.
[ 80 FR 73070 , Nov. 23, 2015, as amended at 81 FR 4974 , Jan. 29, 2016]
Effective Date Note: At 81 FR 4974 , Jan. 29, 2016, § 15.713(b)(2)(iv)
and § (j)(10) introductory text were revised. These paragraphs contain
information collection and recordkeeping requirements and will not
become effective until approval has been given by the Office of
Management and Budget.
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Goto Section: 15.712 | 15.714
Goto Year: 2015 |
2017
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