The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) has adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes targeted changes to its White Space device rules to provide improved connectivity for Americans in rural areas. The NPRM will allow for more efficient use of White Space devices in rural areas without increasing the risk of harmful interference to protected services in the TV bands. Specifically, the NPRM proposes to permit higher transmit power and antenna heights above average terrain resulting in better broadband coverage in rural areas and more flexibility for these devices to participate in the Internet of Things (IoT). The Commission seeks comment on whether the higher power operation of these devices will interfere with adjacent TV channels. Comments are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, which has yet to occur, and reply comments are due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
