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Analyzing the New TV White Space Rules

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Online: www.rinicoran.com Email: scoran@rinicoran.comPhone: 202.463.4310 Offices: 1140 19th Street, N.W., Suite 600 Washington, D.C. 20036

Online: www.spectrumbridge.comEmail: info@spectrumbridge.comPhone: US toll free: +1.800.598.7426 or +1.407.792.1570, Lake Mary, FL

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Presenters

Stephen CoranPartner, Rini Coran, PC

Don JoslynDirector of Software Architecture, Spectrum Bridge, Inc.

Neeraj SrivastavaVP Marketing & Business Development, Spectrum Bridge, Inc.

Overview of the RulesDon JoslynDirector of Software Architecture, Spectrum Bridge, Inc.

Quick Recap:What is TV White Space?

We are talking about the set of 6MHz VHF and UHF channels traditionally reserved for broadcast Television.

Since the Digital Transition was completed, this encompasses channels 2-51 with some limitations (channel 37 is reserved for special applications).

TV White Space is the Gaps

This map shows the service areas for a single TV channel (Channel 9) in the northeast US.

Everything else on the map is “White Space”, representing spectrum that is potentially available for use by new TV Band devices.

The Macro Level View

Rolling up all the “White Space” creates a nationwide footprint...

…but the FCC rules limit how much whitespace each device type can access.

An Example of the Limitations

In any given location (e.g. Zip Code 32746 Lake Mary, Florida), the channel availability will vary by device type after applying the FCC rules.

Worldwide Activity

This is a review of US rules but similar activities are ongoing worldwide.

FCC rules

First set of rules came out in November 2008. After much debate and protest a revised set of rules was published in September 2010.

In addition a separate public notice is due to be published on Database providers.

White Space is Unlicensed with a Twist

In many ways TV White Space rules mirror those of the Second ISM band which many of us are familiar with as it is used by 802.11 (WiFi), Bluetooth, and cordless phones.

The twist is that this band has not been cleared so, depending on where you are in the country and what type of device you are using the spectrum that you can use varies.

The 2008 rules proposed this be dealt with by both sensing and a database. The 2010 rules permit database only options.

Note that the new rules allow for someone to prove a sensing only solution is an acceptable option.

Requirement Categories

• The rules define how various incumbent users are to be protected

• The rules define different classes of devices that can use the TV White Space (fixed, P/P Mode I, P/P Mode II)

• The rules define steps that the devices must take before they can use available channels

• The rules define TV White Space Database requirements

• The rules may well be “Fine tuned” as more is learned about this mode of spectrum sharing

Broadcast TV Stations are Protected

Information on TV broadcast licenses is held in an FCC database (Consolidated Database System - CDBS).

The “protection area” is calculated using an FCC algorithm based on “F” curves. The resulting area does not guarantee TV reception nor does it preclude reception outside the area but this is the area considered by the database.

The database must add “Buffer zones” to ensure that the TV White Space devices do not transmit into the protected zone.

Other Protected Entities

The FCC licenses transmitters and this information can be obtained from the FCC (either CDBS or ULS) however there are users of the band that are receivers only (e.g. Cable headends, TV translator receive sites). These are not tracked by the FCC.

The rules provide for these entities to register with a Database to ensure that they are protected.

Wireless Microphones

Two types of wireless microphones use TV White Space. The first, licensed, is typically used by the broadcast industry.

The second, technically illegal, is used by a wide range of churches, schools, entertainers and events.

The Licensed users have been provided with a mechanism to register their locations of use in a White Space database to get protection.

The FCC has dealt with the unlicensed users by ensuring that a significant percentage of the TV White Spaces will be reserved for them; while not stopping them from using the other available TV White Space.

New TV White Space Devices

As an unlicensed band, devices are power limited. Three thresholds, fixed 4W, portable 100mw and portable 40mw. These will be discussed in more detail by Neeraj and Steve.

The rules do not specify anything about technology.Expect solutions based on existing standards (WiFi, WiMax, LTE) as well as new ones.

The rules require location awareness but do not specify how this is to be achieved.

TV White Space Database

The FCC has proposed that there should be multiple independent Database Providers.

Multiple providers should provide competition that limits costs and enhances innovation.

The database providers must:• Provide channel availability lists to TVWS devices based on

location and device type• Provide mechanisms for protected entities to register for

their protection (e.g. MVPD, LPTV, TV Translator Sites)• Validate FCC ID of Mode I Personal/Portable devices• Share registered protected entity data with other database

providers• Provide mechanisms to audit the protection

Fixed Use of TV White SpacesStephen CoranPartner, RINI CORAN, PC

Definition

Fixed Device – A TVBD that transmits and/or receives radio communication signals at a specified fixed location.

• A fixed TVBD may select channels for operation itself from a list of available channels provided by a TV bands database, initiate and operate a network by sending enabling signals to one or more fixed TVBDs and/or personal/portable TVBDs.

• Fixed devices may communicate with personal/portable devices.

Operating Rules

Power • Maximum of 4 Watts EIRP

Base Station Height• Maximum of 30 meters above ground level• Maximum of 76 meters above average terrain for tower site

• Precludes deployment in many hilly areas of the country

CPE Height• FCC eliminated 10 meter minimum height above ground level when it

eliminated simultaneous spectrum sensing requirement• 76 meter limit for base stations applies to CPE

Channel Widths• 6 megahertz, but can be combined with available adjacent channels

Channel Availability

Channel 2 (54-60 MHz)

Channels 5-6 (76-88 MHz)

Channels 7-13 (174-216 MHz)

Channels 14-20 (470-512 MHz)

Channels 21-36 (512-608 MHz) – Shared with personal/portable.First channel on either side of Channel 37 that is not occupied by a licensed service is reserved for wireless microphones.

Channels 38-51 (614-698 MHz) – shared with personal/portable

Geo-location Database

Channel must be available as determined by database, and operations on channel must cease if database indicates channel no longer available.

Fixed TVBDs must avoid co-channel and first-adjacent channels.

Fixed TVBDs must access database at least once a day to verify continuing availability of channels.

Location of fixed TVBD must be accurate to within 50 meters as determined by incorporated geo-location or professional installer.

Interference Protection

Who is entitled to interference protection?• Digital TV, digital and analog Class A TV, low power TV, TV translator and TV

booster stations

• TV translator and MVPD receive sites within 80 km of the relevant contour• Broadcast Auxiliary Service links within 80 km of TVBD• PLMRS/CMRS co-channel stations within 134 km of TVBD and adjacent-

channel stations within 131 km of TVBD • Canadian and Mexican TV station contours not protected within US

borders

Antenna Height Above Ground Level for Unlicensed Device(4 Watts)

Required Separation (km) From Digital or Analog TV (Full Service or Low Power) Protected Contour

Co-channel Adjacent Channel

<3m 6.0 km 0.1 km

3 – Less than 10 meters 8.0 km 0.1 km

10 – Less than 30 meters 14.4 km 0.74 km

Other Technical Rules

TVBDs must be equipped with automatic power control to limit operating power to the minimum necessary for successful communication

Fixed TVBDs must incorporate security measures . . .• To prevent device from accessing unapproved databases• To ensure that unauthorized users cannot modify the device

or control features• To ensure that they are capable of obtaining lists of available

channels only with authorized database administrators• To prevent corruption or unauthorized interception of data

Things to Remember

Unless the FCC changes the rule, the HAAT restriction will preclude deployments in hilly areas, and drive up infrastructure costs and delay service in some of these areas.

Propagation characteristics of low-frequencies increases potential for interference and self-interference.

Propagation characteristics and antenna sizes differ across the white spaces.

No FCC-mandated process to coordinate or mitigate interference among fixed TVBD users, though database administrators may add this feature.

Low Power Mobile DevicesNeeraj SrivastavaVP Marketing & Business Development, Spectrum Bridge, Inc.

Low Power, Portable Devices“TV White Space is WiFi on Steroids” ─ Larry Page, co-founder Google

Why TV White Space

WiFi TV White Spaces Source: Dell Inc.

Improvements of 2X to 3X over existing optionsIn indoor applications the improvement in propagation through walls with the additional spectrum that has been made available should produce a 2-3X range improvement over existing 2.4GHz WiFi solutions.

Low Power, Portable Devices

• Low Power Portable devices can only operate in ch. 21-36, 38-51• Ch. 37 is reserved for medical telemetry & ch. 36 & 38 are reserved

for wireless microphones (if unoccupied by TV stations)• Power output is 100mW (EIRP) for any channel non-adjacent to a TV

broadcast• Power output is 40mW (EIRP) for any channel adjacent to a TV broadcast• Sensing is no longer a requirement (optional)

Channel # Frequency Band2-4 54-72 MHz

VHF5-6 76-88 MHz7-13 174-216 MHz14-20 470-512 MHz

UHF21-51 512-692 MHz

Two Types of Portable Devices

• Mode II • A portable device that has geo-location capability and can access the

database to obtain a list of available channels• Geo-location accuracy is +/- 50m & must be re-checked at power-on and

every 60s while in active operation (non-sleep mode)• Mode II device can select its channel of operation• Mode II device can initiate and operate a network of fixed and/or portable

devices• Mode II device can provide a list of channels to a Mode I device

• Mode I • A portable device that does not have geo-location capability• Mode I device must obtain a list of channels from a Mode II or fixed

device• Mode I device may NOT initiate a network of fixed and/or portable

devices• Model I device may NOT provide a list of channels to other devices

Typical Access Point Scenario

Access Point – Mode II device

Client devices – Mode I devices

TVWS Database

• Mode II device obtains list of channels from the database

• Mode II device selects channel(s) of operation

• Mode II device initiates network (SSID) and allows client devices to connect

Typical Mode II Client Scenario

Master Device – Mode II device

Client devices – Mode I devices

TVWS Database

• Mode II device obtains list of channels from the database

• Mode II device selects channel(s) of operation

• Mode II device initiates network (SSID) and allows client devices to connect

Next Gen Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11af

• Task Group formed in Jan 2010• Chair: Rich Kennedy (Research In Motion)• Vice-chair: Peter Ecclesine (Cisco Systems)

• Objective: Define modifications to both the 802.11 physical layers (PHY) and the 802.11 Medium Access Control Layer (MAC), to meet the legal requirements for channel access and coexistence in the TV White Space.

• Uses 5, 10, & 20MHz channels that can operate in TV White Spaces.

• See http://www.ieee802.org/ for more details.

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Online: www.rinicoran.com Email: scoran@rinicoran.comPhone: 202.463.4310 Offices: 1140 19th Street, N.W., Suite 600 Washington, D.C. 20036

Online: www.spectrumbridge.comEmail: info@spectrumbridge.comPhone: US toll free: +1.800.598.7426 or +1.407.792.1570, Lake Mary, FL

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