Unlicensed White Space Device Operations in the Television Bands

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Federal Communications Commission 47 CFR Parts 15 [ET Docket Nos. 20-36 and 14-165; FCC 23-24; FRS 139311] AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Final rule. In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) continues taking steps to sustain and spur growth within the white space ecosystem and adopts three orders addressing pending issues associated with white space devices. These actions will provide additional certainty to white space device users and manufacturers to enable unlicensed white space devices to operate efficiently while protecting other spectrum users. In the Report and Order the Commission adopts rules specifying the database re-check interval for the new categories of mobile and narrowband white space devices established in 2020. In the Order on Reconsideration, the Commission dismisses in part and, on alternative and independent grounds, denies a petition for reconsideration of two rule changes for white space devices operating in the broadcast television (TV) bands. In the Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Commission declines to modify the rules to permit white space databases to use more complex terrain-based models to determine the available frequencies for white space devices and will instead continue to rely on the simpler established model that has worked reliably to prevent interference to TV and other protected services. DATES: Effective June 21, 2023. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hugh Van Tuyl, Office of Engineeri…