PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: https://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 18-351 Released: April 9, 2018 OFFICE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SEEKS COMMENT ON NOMINET UK PROPOSAL TO BE DESIGNATED AS A WHITE SPACE DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR ET Docket No. 04-186 Comment Date: May 9, 2018 Reply Date: May 24, 2018 On November 16, 2017, Nominet UK (Nominet) filed a proposal with the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) seeking designation as a white space database administrator under Part 15 of the Commission’s rules. 1 By this Public Notice, we invite interested parties to file comments on Nominet’s proposal. Part 15 of the Commission’s rules permits the operation of unlicensed intentional radiators on available channels in the broadcast television bands, the 600 MHz service band, the 600 MHz duplex gap, and in channel 37. 2 The unused spectrum in these bands is commonly referred to as “white spaces.” Unlicensed devices operating in the white spaces provide broadband data and other services for consumers and businesses. To prevent interference to authorized users of the bands where they operate, white space devices must include a geo-location capability and the capability to access a database that identifies incumbent uses entitled to interference protection, including, for example, full power and low power TV stations, broadcast auxiliary point-to-point facilities, licensed wireless microphones, PLMRS/CMRS operations on channels 14-20, and the Offshore Radiotelephone Service. 3 The database will indicate to a white space device which frequencies are available for use at its location. 4 The database also will be used to register the locations of fixed white space devices and the protected locations and channels of incumbent services that are not recorded in Commission databases. 5 The Commission can designate one or more entities to administer a white space database. 6 1 Nominet’s proposal is available at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/111609559633. 2 47 CFR § 15.701, et. seq. The broadcast television bands consist of channels 2-36 (54-72 MHz, 76-88 MHz, 174- 216 MHz and 470-608 MHz). The 600 MHz service band is comprised of downlink and uplink spectrum (617-652 MHz and 663-698 MHz) for licensed wireless services under Part 27. The upper six megahertz of the duplex gap between the 600 MHz service band (657-663 MHz) is available for use by unlicensed white space devices. Channel 37 (608-614 MHz) is used by the Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS) and radio astronomy. 3 47 CFR § 15.711. 4 47 CFR § 15.713(a)(1). 5 47 CFR § 15.713(a)(3)-(4). Services not recorded in Commission databases include the locations of cable headends and low power TV receive sites that are outside the protected contours of the TV stations whose signals they (continued….) 2OET previously has designated several different entities to serve as white space database administrators. 7 In this designation process, it issued a public notice inviting interested entities to apply, and requesting that each applicant address how the basic components of a white space database required by the Commission’s rules would be implemented, i.e., a data repository, a data registration process, and a query process. 8 This notice also requested that applicants address whether they sought to provide all or only some of these functions and to affirm that the database service would comply with all of the applicable rules. 9 In addition, the notice invited public comment on the database administrator proposals. After reviewing the database administrator proposals and comments received in response to the public notice, OET decided to designate all of the responding entities as white space database administrators, subject to certain conditions. 10 Specifically, each conditionally designated administrator was required to: 1) supplement its initial filing to demonstrate that it would comply with changes that the Commission had made to the white space rules, 2) attend any workshops conducted by OET to address the operation of the databases to ensure consistency and compliance with the rules, 3) cooperate with any steps OET deems necessary to ensure compliance with the rules, and 4) agree not to use its capacity as a database manager to engage in any discriminatory or anti-competitive practices or any practices that may compromise the privacy of users. OET also required that each administrator’s database be subject to a public trial period of not less than 45 days before it could be made available for actual use by white space devices to allow interested parties an opportunity to check that the database is providing accurate results. Nominet’s proposal provides the information requested by OET’s public notice that invited proposals from parties seeking to be designated as white space database administrators. 11 In addition, Nominet states that it will comply with the conditions in OET’s order that conditionally designated white space database administrators. 12 Nominet further states that its database will implement all of the changes to the white space rules that the Commission made in 2015. 13 (Continued from previous page) receive, and the locations where licensed wireless microphones and other low power auxiliary devices are used on a regular or scheduled basis. 6 47 CFR § 15.715. 7 Unlicensed Operation in the TV Broadcast Bands and Additional Spectrum for Unlicensed Devices Below 900 MHz and in the 3 GHz Band, Order, 26 FCC Rcd 554 (2011) and Unlicensed Operation in the TV Broadcast Bands and Additional Spectrum for Unlicensed Devices Below 900 MHz and in the 3 GHz Band, Order, 26 FCC Rcd 10599 (2011). 8 Office of Engineering and Technology Invites Proposals from Entities Seeking to be Designated TV Band Device Database Managers, Public Notice, 24 FCC Rcd 14136 (OET 2009). 9 The Commission may, at its discretion, permit the functions of a white space database, such as the data repository, registration, and query services, to be divided among multiple entities. 47 CFR § 15.715. 10 Unlicensed Operation in the TV Broadcast Bands and Additional Spectrum for Unlicensed Devices Below 900 MHz and in the 3 GHz Band, Order, 26 FCC Rcd 554 (2011). 11 Nominet proposal at 3-10. 12 Nominet proposal at 11. 13 Nominet proposal at 12-13. The Commission made a number of changes to the white space rules in 2015 that must be implemented by the white space database administrators. These include changes to the channels that can be used by white space devices, higher power limits for fixed devices in less congested areas, shorter separation distances for lower power devices, fixed device operation where there are fewer than three contiguous vacant channels, and allowing 600 MHz band licensees to register for protection in areas where they have commenced (continued….) 3We seek comment on designating Nominet as a white space database administrator. Consistent with our previous procedures for designating white space database administrators, we are providing an opportunity for interested parties to file comments on the Nominet proposal. Comments are due by the dates listed above. We will review the proposal, comments, and reply comments before making a decision on whether to designate Nominet as a white space database administrator. We will also request any additional information that we deem necessary to assist us in making a decision. Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this document. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). ? Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/. ? Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first- class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. ? All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12 th St., SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building. ? Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. ? U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12 th Street, SW, Washington DC 20554. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). Parties should also send a copy of their filings to Hugh L. Van Tuyl, Office of Engineering and Technology, Federal Communications Commission, Room 7-A162, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554, or by e-mail to Hugh.VanTuyl@fcc.gov. Documents are available for public inspection and copying during business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-A257, Washington, D.C. 20554. (Continued from previous page) operation. 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). 4Office of Engineering and Technology contact: Hugh L. Van Tuyl at 202-418-7506. By the Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology -FCC-