DA 18-608 Released: June 11, 2018 Office of Engineering and Technology Announces the Opening of Public Testing for Nominet White Space Database System ET Docket No. 04-186 The Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) announces that on June 11, 2018, it will commence a 45-day public trial of Nominet UK’s (Nominet’s) white space database system. See Unlicensed Operation in the TV Broadcast Bands; Additional Spectrum for Unlicensed Devices Below 900 MHz and in the 3 GHz Band, ET Docket Nos. 04-186 and 02-380, Order (OET, June 11, 2018) (issued concurrently with this Public Notice). OET has conditionally designated Nominet as a white space database administrator. Id. This trial is intended to allow the public to access and test Nominet’s database system to ensure that it correctly identifies channels that are available for unlicensed radio transmitting devices that operate in the TV bands, 600 MHz service band, 600 MHz duplex gap, and in channel 37 (white space devices), properly registers radio transmitting facilities entitled to protection, and provides protection to authorized services and registered facilities as specified in the rules. We encourage all interested parties to test the database during this trial period and provide appropriate feedback to Nominet about its system as discussed below. The Commission’s Part 15 rules (47 CFR § 15.701 et seq.) require that unlicensed white space devices contact an authorized database system to obtain a list of channels that are available for their operation (i.e., channels not occupied by authorized radio services) at their individual locations, and that these devices operate only on those channels. Such devices are required to provide their geographic location, by means of a secure internet connection, to a white space database system authorized by the Commission. The database will then return a list of the channels available for operation by a device at its reported location. As part of its authorization process for Nominet’s white space database system, the database will be subject to a public trial period of 45 days to ensure that it is providing accurate results before it is allowed to be made available for regular public use. OET has examined the Nominet database system’s channel availability calculator and registration facilities and finds that these capabilities are ready for trial testing by the public. Trial Access and Details Interested parties may participate in the trial by accessing Nominet’s white space database test portal at: https://usa.dev-wsdb.uk/ . This website provides a description of the trial, instructions for participation, details on use of the database system, access to the database’s various capabilities, and a link for providing comments and other feedback to Nominet. The test facility will be activated on the date that the trial is scheduled to commence. During this trial, participants are encouraged to test: · the channel availability calculator; · the MVPD receive site (cable headend and satellite receive site) registration utility · the broadcast auxiliary temporary receive site registration utility · the fixed white space device registration utility · the licensed wireless microphone registration utility · the 600 MHz band licensee registration utility; and · the Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS) registration utility. The trial is intended to ensure that each of these elements of the database system is working properly and providing the interference protection required under the Commission’s rules. In addition, participants are encouraged to report any inaccuracies or provide comments on other issues with any aspect of the database system to Nominet through the response capability on the trial’s website. Nominet will respond, as appropriate, to such reports and comments with an explanation and notification of any responsive actions it may take, as appropriate. During the trial, Nominet may apply any corrective measures it determines are needed and will advise participants of such measures through the trial’s website. As indicated above, the trial of the Nominet database system is currently scheduled to last for 45 days and will therefore end on July 26, 2018. However, if the results of the trial indicate that additional testing is necessary, OET may extend the trial period. After the close of the trial, Nominet will provide a summary report to OET that identifies: (1) problems reported and their disposition; and (2) descriptions of changes made to the channel availability calculator or registration systems. Once Nominet submits its report, OET will provide a short period of time for interested parties to submit comments on the report. Note that the successful performance of the database system through this trial is only one element in OET’s evaluation of a system for approval to operate. Other requirements for white space database systems are set forth in 47 C.F.R. 15.701 et seq. and OET’s Order that conditionally designated Nominet as a white space database administrator. See note 1. OET will grant final approval for Nominet to operate its database system in coordination with certified white space devices if it determines that the system complies with all of the applicable rules and requirements. The public will be informed of such decision through a Public Notice. The FCC rules require that white space database systems protect the following radio services: (1) broadcast television stations (including full power, TV translator, low power TV, and Class A stations); (2) fixed broadcast auxiliary service (BAS) links (regular licensed and temporary); (3) receive sites (and received channels) of TV translator, low power TV, and Class A TV stations and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs); (4) private land mobile radio service and commercial mobile radio service operations; (5) offshore radio telephone service operations; (6) radio astronomy operations at specific sites; (7) low power auxiliary service (LPAS) operations, including licensed wireless microphones (at specified locations/times); (8) locations where the WMTS operates on channel 37; and (9) areas where 600 MHz band wireless licensees have commenced operations. Except for MVPD receive sites, locations/times where licensed wireless microphones are used, locations where the WMTS operates on channel 37, and areas where 600 MHz band licensees have commenced operations, the necessary data and information for protection of the above facilities will either be extracted by Nominet from the Commission’s databases or are specified in the rules. In 2015, the Commission adopted the most recent revisions to the white space rules 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 at locations where there are fewer than three contiguous vacant channels, allowing operations in channel 37 under specified power limits and separation distances, and allowing 600 MHz band licensees to register for protection in areas where they have commenced 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) (TV Bands Part 15 Report and Order). Pending before the Commission are several petitions for reconsideration of portions of these rules. If the Commission makes any changes to the white space rules on reconsideration, or at any later time, Nominet will be required to modify its database, if necessary, to implement such changes. Operators of facilities for which the requisite information is contained in the Commission’s records or provided in the rules do not need to take any further action to obtain interference protection from white space devices. The rules provide that operators of MVPD receive sites, licensed wireless microphones users, operators of temporary BAS links, users of WMTS on channel 37, and 600 MHz band licensees that have commenced operations may register their locations/areas of operation to receive interference protection from white space devices. As required under the rules, Nominet is providing a registration capability for these facilities. These registration capabilities are available through the database test facility portal at: https://usa.dev-wsdb.uk/. Registrations made during the trial period will be deleted by Nominet after the end of the trial. Parties that wish to register protected facilities will be able to do so provided OET gives final approval for Nominet to operate as a white space database administrator, once the approved operation of the Nominet database begins. We encourage parties responsible for registering protected facilities to enter trial registrations and make use of these capabilities in their testing of Nominet’s database during this trial testing period. Protected entity registrations that are entered into an approved white space database are communicated to other approved white space databases, so that registrations will not need to be entered in multiple databases. However, registrations entered during the Nominet trial will not be communicated to other databases. Thus, only registrations entered into the Nominet database after the trial, provided that database is approved for use, will be communicated to, and included in, other white space databases. 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 the trial of the Nominet database system at any time during and after the trial period. 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://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. § 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 12th 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 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. § U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th 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 CYA257, Washington, D.C. 20554. Questions regarding this Public Notice may be directed to Hugh L. Van Tuyl at (202) 418-7506 or Matthew Hussey at (202) 418-3619. By the Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology. -FCC- 4