§  15.703   Definitions.

   (a) 600 MHz duplex gap. An 11 megahertz guard band at 652-663 MHz that
   separates part 27 600 MHz service uplink and downlink frequencies.

   (b) 600 MHz guard band. Designated frequency band at 614-617 MHz that
   prevents interference between licensed services in the 600 MHz service
   band and channel 37.

   (c) 600 MHz service band. Frequencies in the 617-652 MHz and 663-698
   MHz bands that are reallocated and reassigned for 600 MHz band services
   under part 27 of this chapter.

   (d) Available channel. A channel which is not being used by an
   authorized service and is acceptable for use by the device at its
   geographic location under the provisions of this subpart.

   (e) Contact verification signal. An encoded signal broadcast by a fixed
   or Mode II device for reception by Mode I devices to which the fixed or
   Mode II device has provided a list of available channels for operation.
   Such signal is for the purpose of establishing that the Mode I device
   is still within the reception range of the fixed or Mode II device for
   purposes of validating the list of available channels used by the Mode
   I device and shall be encoded to ensure that the signal originates from
   the device that provided the list of available channels. A Mode I
   device may respond only to a contact verification signal from the fixed
   or Mode II device that provided the list of available channels on which
   it operates. A fixed or Mode II device shall provide the information
   needed by a Mode I device to decode the contact verification signal at
   the same time it provides the list of available channels.

   (f) Fixed device. A white space device that transmits and/or receives
   radiocommunication signals at a specified fixed location. A fixed
   device may select channels for operation from a list of available
   channels provided by a white space database, and initiate and operate a
   network by sending enabling signals to one or more fixed devices and/or
   personal/portable devices. Fixed devices may provide to a Mode I
   personal/portable device a list of available channels on which the Mode
   I device may operate, including channels on which the Mode I device but
   not the fixed device may operate.

   (g) Geo-location capability. The capability of a white space device to
   determine its geographic coordinates and geo-location uncertainty. This
   capability is used with a white space database approved by the FCC to
   determine the availability of spectrum at a white space device's
   location.

   (h) Less congested area. Geographic areas where at least half of the TV
   channels for the bands that will continue to be allocated and assigned
   only for broadcast service are unused for broadcast and other protected
   services and available for white space device use. Less congested areas
   in the UHF TV band are also considered to be less congested areas in
   the 600 MHz service band.

   (i) Mode I personal/portable device. A personal/portable white space
   device that does not use an internal geo-location capability and access
   to a white space database to obtain a list of available channels. A
   Mode I device must obtain a list of available channels on which it may
   operate from either a fixed white space device or Mode II
   personal/portable white space device. A Mode I device may not initiate
   a network of fixed and/or personal/portable white space devices nor may
   it provide a list of available channels to another Mode I device for
   operation by such device.

   (j) Mode II personal/portable device. A personal/portable device that
   uses an internal geo-location capability and access to a white space
   database, either through a direct connection to the Internet or through
   an indirect connection to the Internet by way of fixed device or
   another Mode II device, to obtain a list of available channels. A Mode
   II device may select a channel itself and initiate and operate as part
   of a network of white space devices, transmitting to and receiving from
   one or more fixed devices or personal/portable devices. A Mode II
   personal/portable device may provide its list of available channels to
   a Mode I personal/portable device for operation on by the Mode I
   device.

   (k) Network initiation. The process by which a fixed or Mode II white
   space device sends control signals to one or more fixed white space
   devices or personal/portable white space devices and allows them to
   begin communications.

   (l) Operating channel. An available channel used by a white space
   device for transmission and/or reception.

   (m) Personal/portable device. A white space device that transmits
   and/or receives radiocommunication signals on available channels at
   unspecified locations that may change.

   (n) Receive site. The location where the signal of a full service
   television station is received for rebroadcast by a television
   translator or low power TV station, including a Class A TV station, or
   for distribution by a Multiple Video Program Distributor (MVPD) as
   defined in 47 U.S.C. 602(13).

   (o) Sensing only device. A personal/portable white space device that
   uses spectrum sensing to determine a list of available channels.
   Sensing only devices may transmit on any available channels in the
   frequency bands 512-608 MHz (TV channels 21-36).

   (p) Spectrum Act. Title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job
   Creation Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-96).

   (q) Spectrum sensing. A process whereby a white space device monitors a
   television channel to detect whether the channel is occupied by a radio
   signal or signals from authorized services.

   (r) Television bands. The broadcast television frequency bands at 54-72
   MHz (TV channels 2-4), 76-88 MHz (TV channels 5-6), 174-216 MHz (TV
   channels 7-13) and 470-608 MHz (channels 14-36).

   (s) White space database. A database system approved by the Commission
   that maintains records on authorized services and provides lists of
   available channels to white space devices and unlicensed wireless
   microphone users.

   [ 80 FR 73070 , Nov. 23, 2015, as amended at  84 FR 34796 , July 19, 2019]