Federal Communications Commission DA 17-591
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
Amendment of Part 15 of the Commission’s Rules 
for Unlicensed Operations in the Television Bands,
Repurposed 600 MHz Band, 600 MHz Guard 
Bands and Duplex Gap, and Channel 37, and
Expanding the Economic and Innovation 
Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive 
Auctions
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ET Docket No. 14-165
GN Docket No. 12-268
ORDER
Adopted:  June 20, 2017 Released:  June 20, 2017
By the Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology:
1. By this Order, we extend through September 30, 2017 a waiver of the push notification 
requirements in Sections 15.37(j) and 15.711(i) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 15.37(j) and 
15.711(i), that was previously granted by Commission Order in these dockets.
1
  The waiver of the push 
notification requirement for fixed and Mode II personal/portable white space devices and white space 
databases was due to expire on June 23, 2017.
2
2. On August 11, 2015, the Commission released the Part 15 Report and Order in the 
above-captioned proceeding.
3
  The Part 15 Report and Order adopted new and modified rules for white 
space devices and unlicensed wireless microphones that operate in the TV bands and 600 MHz Band, and 
for white space devices that operate in channel 37.  It also made changes to the rules for white space 
databases and adopted transition rules specifying dates by which white space devices, white space 
databases, and unlicensed wireless microphones must comply with the new requirements.
3. To prevent interference to protected services, including licensed wireless microphones, 
certain white space devices are required to check a database at least once a day to obtain a list of available 
channels at their operating location.
4
  In the Part 15 Report and Order, the Commission retained this 
requirement and decided to also require that database administrators push information about changes in 
channel availability information to white space devices in the area where the licensed wireless 
microphones will be used.
5
  When a database administrator receives a request for access to channels for 
                                                     
1
Amendment of Part 15 of the Commission’s Rules for Unlicensed Operations in the Television Bands, Repurposed 
600 MHz Band, 600 MHz Guard Bands and Duplex Gap, and Channel 37, Order, 31 FCC Rcd 13798 (2016).
2
In a push notification system, a white space database directs information on changes in channel availability to 
specific white space devices in an area.
3
Unlicensed Operations in the Television Bands, Repurposed 600 MHz Band, 600 MHz Guard Bands and Duplex 
Gap, and Channel 37, Report and Order, 30 FCC Rcd 9551 (2015) (Part 15 Report and Order).
4
47 CFR §§ 15.711(c)(2)(iii), (d)(4).  This requirement applies to fixed and Mode II personal/portable white space 
devices.
5
Part 15 Report and Order, 30 FCC Rcd at 9662, para. 274.
Federal Communications Commission DA 17-591
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licensed wireless microphone use, the database administrators must share the licensed wireless 
microphone’s channel registration information among themselves within ten minutes and push 
information about changes in channel availability for fixed and Mode II personal/portable white space 
devices within 20 minutes of receiving it, identifying for the white space devices other available channels 
that could be used instead.  White space devices for which a certification application is filed beginning 
June 23, 2016, or that are imported or marketed beginning September 23, 2016, were to incorporate a
push notification capability.
6
  Previously approved white space devices that do not incorporate a push 
notification capability were to cease operation no later than December 23, 2016.
7
  In addition, the white 
space database administrators were to update their systems to implement push notification capabilities no 
later than December 23, 2016.
8
4. Several parties filed petitions for reconsideration of the push notification requirements
adopted by the Commission, arguing that there are a number of difficulties in implementing them.
9
  Given 
the complexity of the issues, the Commission determined that there was good cause to waive the 
requirements in Section 15.37(j) and 15.711(i) and that the waiver would remain in effect until the 
Commission takes a final action addressing the petitions for reconsideration of the push notification rules. 
Because the petitions for reconsideration remain under active consideration, the reasons supporting the 
original waiver remain valid and a short time extension is warranted. This action is being taken without 
prejudice relative to the merits of these petitions.     
5. This action will ensure that manufacturers may continue to market previously approved 
white space devices, and that users may continue to operate them.  The ability of all approved white space 
devices to satisfy the at-least-once-daily database re-check requirement will ensure that wireless 
microphones will continue to receive interference protection from white space devices.
10
6. Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to the Office of Engineering and 
Technology under Section 0.241(a)(3) of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR § 0.241(a)(3), and Sections 
302, 303(e), and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 302a, 303(e) and 
303(r), IT IS ORDERED that Sections 15.37(j) and 15.711(i) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 
15.37(j) and 15.711(i), ARE WAIVED until September 30, 2017 or until the Commission takes final 
action on the petitions for reconsideration in ET Docket No. 14-165 with respect to these rule sections, 
whichever comes earlier.
7. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the effective date of this Order IS THE DATE upon 
which this Order is released by the Commission.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Julius P. Knapp
                                                     
6
47 CFR § 15.37(j).  No manufacturers applied for certification of white space devices after June 23, 2016.    
7
47 CFR § 15.37(j).  
8
47 CFR § 15.711(i)(3).
9
Google Inc. Petition for Reconsideration, ET Docket No. 14-165, at 1 (filed Dec. 23, 2015),
https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/60001390176.pdf (Google Petition); Petition for Reconsideration of the National 
Association of Broadcasters, ET Docket No. 14-165, at 5 (filed Dec. 23, 2015), 
https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/60001390495.pdf (NAB Petition); Response and Opposition to Petitions for 
Reconsideration of Microsoft Corporation, ET Docket No. 14-165, at 13 (filed Feb. 29, 2016), 
https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/60001524524.pdf (Microsoft Opposition).
10
See n. 4, supra.
Federal Communications Commission DA 17-591
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Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology