47 C.F.R. § 15.712

Current through September 30, 2024
Section 15.712 - Interference protection requirements

The separation distances in this section apply to fixed, mobile, and personal/portable white space devices with a location accuracy of ±50 meters. These distances must be increased by the amount that the location uncertainty of a white space device exceeds ±50 meters. Narrowband white space devices shall comply with the separation distances applicable to a fixed white space device operating with 30 dBm conducted power and 36 dBm EIRP across a 6 megahertz channel.

(a)Digital television stations, and digital and analog Class A TV, low power TV, TV translator and TV booster stations -
(1)Protected contour. White space devices must protect digital and analog TV services within the contours shown in the following table. These contours are calculated using the methodology in § 73.684 of this chapter and the R-6602 curves contained in § 73.699 of this chapter.

Type of stationProtected contour
Channel Contour
(dBu)
Propagation curve
Analog: Class A TV, LPTV, translator and boosterLow VHF (2-6)47F(50,50)
High VHF (7-13)56F(50,50)
UHF (14-69)64F(50,50)
Digital: Full service TV, Class A TV, LPTV, translator and boosterLow VHF (2-6)28F(50,90)
High VHF (7-13)36F(50,90)
UHF (14-51)41F(50,90)

(2)Required separation distance. White space devices must be located outside the contours indicated in paragraph (a)(1) of this section of co-channel and adjacent channel stations by at least the minimum distances specified in the tables in paragraph (a)(2)(v) of this section.
(i) If a device operates between two defined power levels, it must comply with the separation distances for the higher power level.
(ii) White space devices operating at 40 mW EIRP or less are not required to meet the adjacent channel separation distances.
(iii) Fixed white space devices operating at 100 mW EIRP or less per 6 megahertz across multiple contiguous TV channels with at least 3-megahertz separation between the frequency band occupied by the white space device and adjacent TV channels are not required to meet the adjacent channel separation distances.
(iv) Fixed white space devices may only operate above 4 W EIRP in less congested areas as defined in § 15.703 .
(v) The following are the tables of minimum required separation distances outside the contours of co-channel and adjacent channel stations that white space devices must meet.

Table 2 to Paragraph (a)(2)(v)

Mode II personal/portable white space devices
Required separation in kilometers from co-channel digital or analog TV
(full service or low power) protected contour
16 dBm
(40 mW)
20 dBm
(100 mW)
Communicating with Mode II or Fixed device1.31.7
Communicating with Mode I device2.63.4

Table 3 to Paragraph (a)(2)(v)

Fixed white space devices
Antenna height above
average terrain of
unlicensed devices
(meters)
Required separation in kilometers from co-channel digital or analog TV
(full service or low power) protected contour1
16 dBm
(40 mW)
20 dBm
(100 mW)
24 dBm
(250 mW)
28 dBm
(625 mW)
32 dBm
(1,600 mW)
36 dBm
(4 W)
40 dBm
(10 W)
42 dBm
(16 W)
Less than 31.31.72.12.73.34.04.55.0
3-102.43.13.84.86.17.38.59.4
10-304.25.16.07.18.911.113.915.3
30-505.46.57.79.211.514.319.120.9
50-756.67.99.411.113.918.023.826.2
75-1007.79.210.912.817.221.127.230.1
100-1509.411.113.216.521.425.332.335.5
150-20010.912.715.819.524.728.536.439.5
200-25012.114.318.222.027.331.239.542.5
250-30013.916.420.023.929.435.442.145.9
300-35015.317.921.725.731.437.644.548.4
350-40016.619.323.227.333.339.746.951.0
400-45017.620.424.428.735.141.949.453.8
450-50018.321.425.530.136.743.751.455.9
500-55018.921.826.331.037.945.353.357.5

1 When communicating with Mode I personal/portable white space devices, the required separation distances must be increased beyond the specified distances by 1.3 kilometers if the Mode I device operates at power levels no more than 40 mW EIRP or 1.7 kilometers if the Mode I device operates at power levels above 40 mW EIRP.

Table 4 to Paragraph (a)(2)(v)

Personal/portable white space devices
Required separation in kilometers from adjacent channel digital
or analog TV (full service or low power) protected contour
20 dBm
(100 mW)
Communicating with Mode II or Fixed device0.1
Communicating with Mode I device0.2

Table 5 to Paragraph (a)(2)(v)

Fixed white space devices
Antenna height above average
terrain of unlicensed devices
(meters)
Required separation in kilometers from adjacent channel digital or analog TV
(full service or low power) protected contour1
20 dBm
(100 mW)
24 dBm
(250 mW)
28 dBm
(625 mW)
32 dBm
(1,600 mW)
36 dBm
(4 W)
40 dBm
(10 W)
42 dBm
(16 W)
Less than 30.10.10.10.10.20.20.3
3-100.10.20.20.20.30.40.5
10-300.20.30.30.40.50.60.7
30-500.30.30.40.50.70.81.0
50-750.30.40.50.70.80.91.0
75-1000.40.50.60.81.01.11.3
100-1500.50.60.80.91.21.31.5
150-2000.50.70.91.11.41.51.7
200-2500.60.81.01.21.51.71.9
250-3000.70.81.01.31.62.12.3
300-3500.70.91.11.41.82.22.4
350-4000.81.01.21.51.92.42.7
400-4500.81.01.31.62.12.62.9
450-5000.81.11.41.72.12.72.9
500-5500.91.21.51.82.22.83.0

1 When communicating with a Mode I personal/portable white space device that operates at power levels above 40 mW EIRP, the required separation distances must be increased beyond the specified distances by 0.1 kilometers.

(3)Fixed white space device antenna height. Fixed white space devices must comply with the requirements of § 15.709(g) .
(b)TV translator, Low Power TV (including Class A) and Multi-channel Video Programming Distributor (MVPD) receive sites.
(1) MVPD, TV translator station and low power TV (including Class A) station receive sites located outside the protected contour of the TV station(s) being received may be registered in the white space database if they are no farther than 80 km outside the nearest edge of the relevant contour(s). Only channels received over the air and used by the MVPD, TV translator station or low power/Class A TV station may be registered.
(2) White space devices may not operate within an arc of ±30 degrees from a line between a registered receive site and the contour of the TV station being received in the direction of the station's transmitter at a distance of up to 80 km from the edge of the protected contour of the received TV station for co-channel operation and up to 20 km from the registered receive site for adjacent channel operation, except that the protection distance shall not exceed the distance from the receive site to the protected contour.
(3) Outside of the ±30 degree arc defined in paragraph (b)(2) of this section:
(i) White space devices operating at 4 watts EIRP or less may not operate within 8 km from the receive site for co-channel operation and 2 km from the receive site for adjacent channel operation.
(ii) White space devices operating with more than 4 watts EIRP and up to 10 watts EIRP may not operate within 10.2 kilometers from the receive site for co-channel operation and 2.5 kilometers from the receive site for adjacent channel operation.
(iii) White space devices operating with more than 10 watts EIRP may not operate within 16.6 kilometers from the receive site for co-channel operation and 3.5 kilometers from the receive site for adjacent channel operation.
(iv) For purposes of this section, a TV station being received may include a full power TV station, TV translator station or low power TV/Class A TV station.
(c)Fixed Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS) links.
(1) For permanent BAS receive sites appearing in the Commission's Universal Licensing System or temporary BAS receive sites registered in the white space database, white space devices may not operate within an arc of ±30 degrees from a line between the BAS receive site and its associated permanent transmitter within a distance of 80 km from the receive site for co-channel operation and 20 km for adjacent channel operation.
(2) Outside of the ±30 degree arc defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section:
(i) White space devices operating at 4 watts EIRP or less may not operate within 8 km from the receive site for co-channel operation and 2 km from the receive site for adjacent channel operation.
(ii) White space devices operating with more than 4 watts EIRP and up to 10 watts EIRP may not operate within 10.2 km from the receive site for co-channel operation and 2.5 km from the receive site for adjacent channel operation.
(iii) White space devices operating with more than 10 watts EIRP may not operate within 16.6 kilometers from the receive site for co-channel operation and 3.5 kilometers from the receive site for adjacent channel operation.
(d)PLMRS/CMRS operations.
(1) White space devices may not operate at distances less than those specified in the table in this paragraph (d)(1) from the coordinates of the metropolitan areas and on the channels listed in § 90.303(a) of this chapter.

Table 6 to Paragraph (d)(1)

White space device transmitter powerRequired separation in kilometers from the areas specified in § 90.303(a)
of this chapter
Co-channel operation Adjacent channel operation
Up to 250 meters HAAT Greater than 250 meters HAATUp to 250 meters HAAT Greater than 250 meters HAAT
Up to 4 watts EIRP134.0158.0131.0155.4
Greater than 4 watts and up to 10 watts EIRP136.0169.8131.5166.0
Greater than 10 watts and up to 16 watts EIRP139.2171.1132.2166.2

(2) White space devices may not operate at distances less than those specified in the table in this paragraph (d)(2) from PLMRS/CMRS operations authorized by waiver outside of the metropolitan areas listed in § 90.303(a) of this chapter.

Table 7 to Paragraph (d)(2)

White space device transmitter powerRequired separation in kilometers from operations authorized by waiver outside of the areas specified in § 90.303(a) of this chapter
Co-channel operation Adjacent channel operation
Up to 250 meters HAAT Greater than 250 meters HAATUp to 250 meters HAAT Greater than 250 meters HAAT
Up to 4 watts EIRP54.078.051.075.4
Greater than 4 watts and up to 10 watts EIRP56.089.851.586.0
Greater than 10 watts and up to 16 watts EIRP59.291.152.286.2

(e)Offshore Radiotelephone Service. White space devices may not operate on channels used by the Offshore Radio Service within the geographic areas specified in § 74.709(e) of this chapter.
(f)Low power auxiliary services, including wireless microphones. White space devices are not permitted to operate within the following distances of the coordinates of registered low power auxiliary station sites on the registered channels during the designated times they are used by low power auxiliary stations.
(1) Fixed white space devices with 10 watts EIRP or less: 1 kilometer.
(2) Fixed white space devices with greater than 10 watts EIRP: 1.3 kilometers.
(3) Personal/portable white space devices: 400 meters.
(g)Border areas near Canada and Mexico. Fixed, mobile, and personal/portable white space devices shall comply with the required separation distances in paragraph (a)(2) of this section from the protected contours of TV stations in Canada and Mexico. White space devices are not required to comply with the separation distances in paragraph (a)(2) from portions of the protected contours of Canadian or Mexican TV stations that fall within the United States.
(h)Radio astronomy services.
(1) Operation of fixed, mobile, and personal/portable white space devices is prohibited on all channels within 2.4 kilometers at the following locations.
(i) The Naval Radio Research Observatory in Sugar Grove, West Virginia at 38 30 58 N and 79 16 48 W.
(ii) The Table Mountain Radio Receiving Zone (TMRZ) at 40 08 02 N and 105 14 40 W.
(iii) The following facilities:

Observatory Latitude
(deg/min/sec)
Longitude
(deg/min/sec)
Arecibo Observatory18 20 37 N066 45 11 W
Green Bank Telescope (GBT)38 25 59 N079 50 23 W
Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) Stations:
Pie Town, NM34 18 04 N108 07 09 W
Kitt Peak, AZ31 57 23 N111 36 45 W
Los Alamos, NM35 46 30 N106 14 44 W
Ft. Davis, TX30 38 06 N103 56 41 W
N. Liberty, IA41 46 17 N091 34 27 W
Brewster, WA48 07 52 N119 41 00 W
Owens Valley, CA37 13 54 N118 16 37 W
St. Croix, VI17 45 24 N064 35 01 W
Hancock, NH42 56 01 N071 59 12 W
Mauna Kea, HI19 48 05 N155 27 20 W

(2) Operation within the band 608-614 MHz is prohibited within the areas defined by the following coordinates (all coordinates are NAD 83):
(i) Pie Town, NM

North latitude
(deg/min/sec)
West longitude
(deg/min/sec)
35 25 56.28107 44 56.40
35 15 57.24107 41 27.60
33 52 14.16107 30 25.20
33 22 39.36107 49 26.40
33 57 38.52109 36 10.80
34 04 46.20109 34 12.00
34 27 20.88109 12 43.20
35 15 30.24108 25 55.20

(ii) Kitt Peak, AZ

North latitude
(deg/min/sec)
West longitude (deg/min/sec)
34 08 18.24111 36 46.80
33 54 10.08109 38 20.40
32 09 25.56113 42 03.60
31 29 15.72111 33 43.20
33 20 36.60113 36 14.40
34 09 20.52112 34 37.20

(iii) Los Alamos, NM

North latitude
(deg/min/sec)
West longitude (deg/min/sec)
36 25 54.12106 06 07.20
36 32 26.88105 59 27.60
36 45 23.40105 48 03.60
36 48 10.44105 30 21.60
36 13 37.92105 26 38.40
35 38 40.92105 48 36.00
35 36 51.48105 49 30.00
34 06 17.28107 10 48.00
34 16 18.12107 17 16.80
35 21 22.68106 51 07.20

(iv) Ft. Davis, TX

North latitude
(deg/min/sec)
West longitude (deg/min/sec)
30 42 16.92103 55 22.80
30 35 49.92103 41 52.80
30 32 35.88103 43 04.80
30 25 20.64103 49 48.00
30 24 30.24103 52 30.00
30 26 14.28103 57 54.00
30 33 03.60104 09 10.80
30 40 03.36104 05 9.60
30 43 11.28103 58 48.00

(v) N. Liberty, IA

North latitude
(deg/min/sec)
West longitude (deg/min/sec)
42 03 27.0090 54 16.56
41 59 03.1290 46 49.44
41 34 19.2090 51 11.16
41 19 27.1290 58 58.80
41 02 09.9691 07 18.84
41 07 51.2492 03 44.64
41 50 03.1292 36 20.16
42 28 50.1691 44 35.16

(vi) Brewster, WA

North latitude
(deg/min/sec)
West longitude
(deg/min/sec)
48 18 00.36119 35 27.60
48 16 40.08119 34 51.60
48 15 20.52119 34 33.60
48 12 26.64119 34 08.40
48 07 51.96119 34 33.60
48 06 44.64119 34 48.00
47 58 44.40119 36 03.60
47 55 06.60119 37 40.80
47 52 48.72119 39 03.60
48 00 49.68119 59 06.00
48 26 59.64119 46 04.80
48 26 08.52119 43 22.80

(vii) Owens Valley, CA

North latitude
(deg/min/sec)
West longitude
(deg/min/sec)
37 05 49.56118 02 13.20
37 03 27.36118 01 08.40
36 29 09.96118 06 50.40
36 30 48.60118 11 56.40
36 37 08.04118 16 37.20
37 25 12.72118 41 16.80
37 27 30.24118 41 02.40
37 44 45.96118 39 03.60
37 59 49.92118 32 09.60
37 46 12.72118 20 09.60

(viii) St. Croix, VI

North latitude
(deg/min/sec)
West longitude
(deg/min/sec)
18 29 15.3664 22 38.28
18 06 51.1264 08 03.84
18 04 31.4464 06 12.24
18 02 02.7664 04 33.96
17 59 26.5264 03 09.36
17 56 43.8064 01 59.52
17 53 56.0464 01 04.80
17 51 03.9664 00 25.56
17 48 09.7264 00 02.16
17 42 19.0863 58 57.36
17 39 07.9263 58 15.96
17 42 10.4464 39 37.44
17 43 57.0064 50 46.32
18 07 24.2466 02 36.96
18 16 13.8065 44 56.04

(ix) Hancock, NH

North latitude
(deg/min/sec)
West longitude
(deg/min/sec)
44 08 59.6471 32 01.68
43 46 24.6071 18 57.60
42 58 41.8871 15 14.04
42 29 25.0871 52 51.96
42 34 05.8872 07 08.76
42 34 41.5272 09 41.76
42 55 47.2872 55 03.72

(x) Mauna Kea, HI

North latitude
(deg/min/sec)
West longitude
(deg/min/sec)
20 11 01.32153 03 43.20
20 00 52.92152 35 56.40
19 46 42.60152 35 34.80
19 32 33.36152 36 28.80
19 18 31.68152 38 38.40
19 04 44.04152 42 07.20
18 51 16.56152 46 51.60
18 38 15.72152 52 44.40
18 25 46.56152 59 49.20
18 13 55.20153 07 55.20
18 02 46.68153 17 06.00
17 52 26.40153 27 14.40
17 42 57.96153 38 16.80
17 35 20.04153 50 45.60
17 27 52.20154 03 10.80
17 21 27.00154 16 15.60
17 16 08.40154 29 49.20
17 11 57.84154 43 51.60
17 08 57.48154 58 08.40
17 07 09.12155 12 43.20
17 23 53.52155 27 21.60
19 29 13.92155 36 21.60
19 47 53.88155 29 27.60
19 48 52.92155 27 39.60
19 48 58.68155 27 14.40

(3) Operation within the band 608-614 MHz is prohibited within the following areas:
(i) The National Radio Quiet Zone as defined in § 1.924(a)(1) of this chapter.
(ii) The islands of Puerto Rico, Desecheo, Mona, Vieques or Culebra
(i)600 MHz service band: Fixed and personal/portable devices operating in the 600 MHz Service Band must comply with the following co-channel and adjacent channel separation distances outside the defined polygonal area encompassing the base stations or other radio facilities deployed by a part 27 600 MHz Service Band licensee that has commenced operations, as defined in § 27.4 of this chapter.
(1) Fixed white space devices may only operate above 4 W EIRP in less congested areas as defined in § 15.703 .
(2) If a device operates between two defined power levels, it must comply with the separation distances for the higher power level.
(3) For the purpose of this rule, co-channel means any frequency overlap between a channel used by a white space device and a five megahertz spectrum block used by a part 27 600 MHz band licensee, and adjacent channel means a frequency separation of zero to four megahertz between the edge of a channel used by a white space device and the edge of a five megahertz spectrum block used by a part 27 600 MHz band licensee.
(4) On frequencies used by wireless uplink services:

Mode II Personal/Portable White Space Devices

600 MHz band wireless uplink spectrum
Minimum co-channel separation distances in kilometers between white space devices and any point along the edge of a polygon representing the outer edge of base station or other radio facility deployment
16 dBm (40 mW)20 dBm (100 mW)
Communicating with Mode II or Fixed device56
Communicating with Mode I device1012

Fixed White Space Devices

Antenna height above average terrain of unlicensed devices (meters)600 MHz band wireless uplink spectrum
Minimum co-channel separation distances in kilometers between white space devices and any point along the edge of a polygon representing the outer edge of base station or other radio facility deployment*
16 dBm (40mW)20 dBm
(100 mW)
24 dBm
(250mW)
28 dBm
(625 mW)
32 dBm
(1600 mW)
36 dBm
(4 W)
40 dBm
(10 W)
Less than 35679121519
3-109111417222734
10-3015192430384760
30-5020243138496060
50-7524303747606060
75-10027344354606060
100-15033425360606060
150-20039496060606060
200-25043546060606060

*When communicating with Mode I personal/portable white space devices, the required separation distances must be increased beyond the specified distances by 5 kilometers if the Mode I device operates at power levels no more than 40 mW EIRP or 6 kilometers if the Mode I device operates at power levels above 40 mW EIRP.

Personal/Portable White Space Devices

600 MHz band wireless uplink
spectrum
Minimum adjacent channel separation distances in kilometers between white space devices and any point along the edge of a polygon representing the outer edge of base station or other radio facility deployment
20 dBm (100 mW)
Communicating with Mode II or Fixed device0.1
Communicating with Mode I device0.3

Fixed White Space Devices

Antenna height above average terrain of unlicensed devices (meters)600 MHz band wireless uplink spectrum
Minimum adjacent channel separation distances in kilometers between white space devices and any point along the edge of a polygon representing the outer edge of base station or other radio facility deployment*
20 dBm
(100 mW)
24 dBm
(250mW)
28 dBm
(625 mW)
32 dBm
(1600 mW)
36 dBm
(4 W)
40 dBm
(10 W)
Less than 30.10.20.20.30.40.4
3-100.30.30.40.50.60.8
10-300.40.60.70.91.11.4
30-500.60.70.91.21.41.8
50-750.70.91.11.41.82.2
75-1000.81.01.31.62.02.6
100-1501.01.31.62.02.53.1
150-2001.21.41.82.32.93.6
200-2501.31.62.02.63.24.1

*When communicating with Mode I personal/portable white space devices, the required separation distances must be increased beyond the specified distances by 0.1 kilometers.

(5) On frequencies used by wireless downlink services: 35 kilometers for co-channel operation, and 31 kilometers for adjacent channel operation.
(j)Wireless Medical Telemetry Service.
(1) White space devices operating in the 608-614 MHz band (channel 37) are not permitted to operate within an area defined by the polygon described in § 15.713(j)(11) plus the distances specified in the tables in this paragraph (j)(1):
(i) Mode II personal/portable white space devices.

Table 23 to Paragraph (j)(1)(i)

Required co-channel
separation distances
in kilometers from
edge of polygon
16 dBm
(40 mW)
Communicating with Mode II or Fixed device0.38
Communicating with Mode I device0.76

(ii) Fixed white space devices, except that when communicating with Mode I personal/portable white space devices, the required separation distances must be increased beyond the specified distances by 0.38 kilometers.

Table 24 to Paragraph (j)(1)(ii)

Antenna height above average terrain of unlicensed devices
(meters)
Required co-channel
separation distances
in kilometers from
edge of polygon
16 dBm
(40 mW)
Less than 30.38
3-100.70
10-301.20
30-501.55
50-751.90
75-1002.20
100-1502.70
150-2003.15
200-2503.50

(2) White space devices operating in the 602-608 MHz band (channel 36) and 614-620 MHz band (channel 38) are not permitted to operate within an area defined by the polygon described in § 15.713(j)(11) plus the distances specified in the tables in this paragraph (j)(2):
(i) Mode II personal/portable white space devices.

Table 25 to Paragraph (j)(2)(i)

Required adjacent channel separation
distances in meters from edge of polygon
16 dBm
(40 mW)
20 dBm
(100 mW)
Communicating with Mode II or Fixed device813
Communicating with Mode I device1626

(ii) Fixed white space devices, except that when communicating with Mode I personal/portable white space devices, the required separation distances must be increased beyond the specified distances by 8 meters if the Mode I device operates at power levels no more than 40 mW EIRP, or 13 meters if the Mode I device operates at power levels above 40 mW EIRP.

Table 26 to Paragraph (j)(2)(ii)

Required adjacent channel separation distances
in meters from edge of polygon
16 dBm
(40 mW)
20 dBm
(100 mW)
24 dBm
(250 mW)
28 dBm
(625 mW)
32 dBm
(1600 mW)
36 dBm
(4 watts)
81320325071

(k)488-494 MHz band in Hawaii. White space devices are not permitted to operate in the 488-494 MHz band in Hawaii.

47 C.F.R. §15.712

80 FR 73070, Nov. 23, 2015, as amended at 81 FR 4974, Jan. 29, 2016; 84 FR 34798, July 19, 2019; 86 FR 2293, Jan. 12, 2021; 86 FR 8558, Feb. 8, 2021
84 FR 34798, 8/19/2019; 86 FR 2293, 2/11/2021; 86 FR 8558, 2/8/2021