DBS-01
Issue 1
May 2013
Spectrum Management and Telecommunications
Database Requirements
White Space (WS) Database
Specifications
Aussi disponible en français - CPC-X-XX-XX
Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Intent ........................................................................................................ 3
General Scope and Application ............................................................... 3
Definitions................................................................................................ 3
Related Documents .................................................................................. 5
White Space Frequency Bands ................................................................ 6
White Space Device (WSD) Operation . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Database Information ............................................................................... 7
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
Information on Licensed Systems ....................................................................... 7
Information Required for TV Broadcasting Stations .......................................... 7
Information Required for RRBS Base Stations .................................................. 8
LPA Scheduling Information .............................................................................. 8
8. Protection Criteria .................................................................................... 8
8.1
Protection Criteria in the White Space Frequency Bands Error! Bookmark not
defined.
8.2.
Protection Criteria Over-the-Air TV Broadcast Stations .................................... 8
8.3.
Broadcast TV Protected Contours ...................................................................... 9
8.3.1.
WSD Separation Distance from Broadcast TV Protected Contour .............. 10
8.4
Protection Criteria to RRBS.............................................................................. 13
8.4.1
WSD Separation Distance from RRBS Protected Contour .......................... 14
8.5
Protection Criteria to Licensed LPA ................................................................. 15
8.6
Protection of Radio Astronomy ........................................................................ 16
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Security .................................................................................................. 16
Database Access Initialization and Re-verification Procedures ............ 17
Synchronization ..................................................................................... 17
Operation Near the Canada/U.S. Border ............................................... 17
Interference Response ............................................................................ 18
White Space (WS) Database Specifications
List of acronyms
AGL Above Ground Level
DUT Device Under Test
HAAT Height Above Average Terrain
IC ID Industry Canada Identification
PSD Power Spectral Density
WSD White Space Device
WSDB White Space Database
2
White Space (WS) Database Specifications
1.
Intent
DBS-01, Issue 1, White Space Database Specifications, sets out the minimum technical
requirements for the designation of a database capable of indicating available channels
for use by white space devices in the white space frequency bands (i.e. 54-60 MHz, 76-88
MHz, 174-216 MHz, 470-608 MHz and 614-698 MHz).
2.
General Scope and Application
A white space database (WSDB) is an Industry Canada recognized database system that
provides lists of available channels to white space devices (WSDs), while ensuring
protection of all licensed services and systems operating in the white space frequency
bands.
Television white spaces (TVWS) are the unused portions of the TV broadcast spectrum
in the VHF and UHF bands that remain vacant to prevent interference between broadcast
stations or may be due to the limited demand for over-the-air TV stations in certain
geographic locations. For the purposes of this document, TVWS will be referred to as
white space (WS) where applicable.
A WSDB uses geo-location data provided by WSDs to dynamically manage their access
to spectrum. WSDs are licence-exempt low-power wireless devices that operate on a noprotection, no-interference basis with respect to licensees operating in the same white
space frequency bands.
3.
Definitions
Available Channel
A range of frequencies which is not being used and is available for use by a white space
device.
Dynamic Spectrum Access
A technique by which a radio system dynamically adapts to the local radio spectrum
environment in order to determine available channels at specific locations.
Fixed White Space Device
A device that transmits and/or receives radiocommunication signals at a specified fixed
location. The fixed device selects potential operational frequencies from a list of
available channels, as provided by a white space database.
Access to the database may be through a direct connection to the Internet or through an
indirect connection via another fixed or a mode II white space device.
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White Space (WS) Database Specifications
Industry Canada Identification (IC ID) is Industry Canada’s certification number of a
white space device.
Low-power apparatus (LPA)
Some examples of low-power apparatus (LPA) consists of wireless microphones, cue and
control communications, and synchronization of video camera signals. Low power FM
transmitters may also be included in this category, but their use is restricted and may only
be authorized for operation under specific conditions.
Personal/Portable White Space Device
Personal/portable white space device is a white space device that transmits and/or
receives radiocommunication signals while in motion, i.e. at non-vehicular speeds, or at
unspecified fixed points.
Personal/Portable Mode I Device
A personal/portable white space device that does not use an internal geo-location
capability and does not directly access a white space database to obtain a list of available
radio frequency channels.
A mode I personal/portable device must obtain a list of available channels on which it
may operate through an indirect connection via either a fixed device or a mode II
personal/portable device. A mode I personal/portable device does not initiate a network
of white space devices or provide a list of available radio frequency channels to another
mode I device for use by such a device.
Personal/Portable Mode II Device
A personal/portable white space device that uses internal geo-location and accesses a
white space database for a list of available radio frequency channels.
Access to the database may be through a direct connection to the Internet or through an
indirect connection via a fixed or another mode II white space device. A mode II device
may provide its lists of available radio frequency channels to another mobile device for
use by that device.
Protected contour
A contour within which a station (for broadcasting, RRBS, etc.) and its associated
receivers or remote stations have protection from other devices operating in the same
frequency bands and which may potentially interfere with the station.
Remote Rural Broadband Systems (RRBS) equipment
Fixed systems that provide wireless Internet access for subscriber-based broadband
Internet applications, using TV white space spectrum, on a licensed basis and without
database connectivity.
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White Space (WS) Database Specifications
Separation Contour
A contour resulting from the sum of the protected contour and the separation distance
which together define a new and larger contour.
Separation Distance
The minimum distance between a white space device and a station’s protected contour
(for broadcasting, RRBS, etc.) at which a white space device may operate.
White Space (WS)
Part of the spectrum available for radiocommunication by radio systems, at a specific
time, in a given geographical area, on a no-protection, non-interference basis to other
authorized radio services.
White Space Database (WSDB)
An Industry Canada recognized third party database that maintains records of all licensed
services and systems approved to operate within white space frequency bands. The white
space database determines available channels at a specific time and geographic location,
and provides lists of available channels to white space devices.
White Space Database Administrator (WSDBA)
A third party service provider designated by Industry Canada to administer a white space
database within Canada.
White Space Device (WSD)
A radio apparatus that operates in the white space frequency bands using dynamic
spectrum access techniques.
4.
Related Documents
CPC-DBAP Application Procedures for TV White Space Database Administrators
RSS-222
White Space Devices (WSDs)
SMSE-12-11 Consultation on a Policy and Technical Framework for the Use of
Non-Broadcasting Applications in the Television Broadcasting Bands
Below 698 MHz
SMSE-12-12 Framework for the use of Certain Non-broadcasting Applications in the
Television Broadcasting Bands Below 698 MHz
SRSP 300.512 Technical Requirements for Remote Rural Broadband Systems (RRBS)
Operating in the Bands 512-608 MHz and 614-698 MHz (TV Channels 21
to 51).
5
White Space (WS) Database Specifications
RSS- 196
Point-to-Multipoint Broadband Equipment Operating in the Bands 512608 MHz and 614-698 MHz for Rural Remote Broadband Systems (RRBS)
(TV Channels 21 to 51).
CPC 2-1-11
Low-power Licensed Radio Apparatus
RSS-210
Licence-exempt Radio Apparatus (All Frequency Bands): Category I
Equipment
BPR-4
Application Procedures and Rules for Television Broadcasting
Undertakings
BPR-10
Application Procedures and Rules for Digital Television (DTV)
Undertakings
Access to Information Act
Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
5.
White Space Frequency Bands
The frequency bands/channels potentially available for use by WSDs is shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Available Channels by Type of WSD
Frequency Bands
(MHz)
TV Channels
Personal/
Portable
WSD
-
Fixed
WSD
54-60
2
60-72
3-4
76-88
5-6
-

174-216
7-13
-

470-512
14-20
-

512-608
21-36


608-614
37
614-698
38-51

[Note 1]
[Note 2]


Note 1: Channels 3 and 4 have been excluded from the list due to the use of these
channels by consumer electronic devices in North America.
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White Space (WS) Database Specifications
Note 2: Channel 37 has been excluded from the list to protect the operation of radio
astronomy and wireless medical telemetry.
A WSDB shall only provide available channels, depending on the type of WSD (fixed or
personal/portable), from among those listed above.
6.
Database Information
6.1
Information on Licensed Systems
Information on licensed systems and services is to be obtained from Industry Canada’s
licensing, certification and broadcasting databases. The WSDBs shall retrieve updated
Industry Canada licensing information every 24 hours. For information on interfacing
with these databases and interpretation of data fields, please refer to the following:
Broadcasting Applications Support1
Website: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/h_sf09484.html
Radio Equipment List (REL)2
Website: http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/sitt/reltel/srch/nwRdSrch.do?lang=eng
Spectrum Direct3
Website: http://www.ic.gc.ca/spectrumdirect
6.2
Information Required for TV Broadcasting Stations
A WSDB shall obtain the following information from Industry Canada’s database for
broadcasting stations to be protected from WSDs:
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
Transmitter coordinates (Latitude/Longitude);
Maximum ERP;
Height Above Ground Level of the transmitting antenna;
Horizontal transmit antenna pattern (if antenna is directional);
Channel numbers;
Station call sign; and
Station status.
1
Data on television broadcast transmitters
Data on certified equipment models
3
Data on licensed radiocommunications stations
2
7
White Space (WS) Database Specifications
6.3
Information Required for RRBS Base Stations
A WSDB shall obtain the following information from Industry Canada’s database for
RRBS stations to be protected from WSDs:
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
6.4
Transmitter coordinates (Latitude/Longitude);
Maximum ERP;
Height Above Ground Level of the transmitting antenna;
Transmit antenna pattern (Horizontal/Vertical);
Channel numbers; and
Station call sign.
LPA Scheduling Information
A WSDB shall obtain the following scheduling information from licensed LPA (fixed
and mobile) wishing to be protected from WSDs:
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
viii)
7.
Name of the individual or business responsible for LPA;
Contact address;
Email address for contact person;
Phone number for contact person;
Coordinates of the location or area where the LPA will be used.
Channels used by the LPA operated at the site;
Specific months, weeks, days of the week and times when the LPA(s) will be
used (on dates when microphones are not in use, the site will not be offered
protection from WSDs); and
LPA station call sign (if applicable).
Protection Criteria
A WSDB shall only return available channels according to the following protection
criteria.
7.1
Protection Criteria Over-the-Air TV Broadcast Stations
A WSDB shall protect active over-the-air TV broadcast stations. TV broadcast stations
with the following status are active: operational (OP), authorized (AU), and temporary
operation (TO).
The broadcast TV protected contour is to be calculated for each of these stations using
the geographic site location, maximum effective radiated power (ERP), effective height
above average terrain (EHAAT), the horizontal antenna radiation pattern, and the terrain
elevation based on a 3 arc second data from the most recent Canadian Digital Elevation
8
White Space (WS) Database Specifications
Data (CDED) or United States Geological Survey (USGS), and the predefined thresholds
of the TV protected contours as defined in Table 2.
Appendix B provides the detailed methodology on the broadcast TV protected contour
calculation.
A WSDB shall not assign channels to a WSD within the minimum distance as specified
in Section 8.3.2 at the edge of the broadcast TV protected contour.
7.2
Broadcast TV Protected Contours
i)
A WSDB shall protect all active TV broadcasting stations, including active
analog and digital TV stations (i.e. including full service TV stations, TV
translator, TV booster stations), and low power TV (i.e. including LP TV
translator, TV booster stations, cable TV headends, TV receiver stations, Very
Low Power TV) from interference using the Thresholds for Broadcast TV
Protected Contours as shown in Table 2.
Table 2: Thresholds for the Protected Contours of Broadcast TV Stations
Type of TV station[Note 1]
Analog (full and low
power)[Note 3]
Digital (full power)[Note 4]
TV Channel
Low VHF (Ch. 2-6)
High VHF (Ch. 713)
UHF (Ch. 14-51)
Low VHF (Ch. 2-6)
High VHF (Ch. 713)
UHF (Ch. 14-51)
Thresholds for
Broadcast TV
Protected
Contour
(dBµV/m)
47
56
Propagation
Curve[Note 2]
F(50,50)
F(50,50)
64-20log(615/F)
28
36
F(50,50)
F(50,90)
F(50,90)
41-20log(615/F)
F(50,90)
[Note 5]
Digital (low power)[Note 4]
Low VHF (Ch. 2-6)
High VHF (Ch. 713)
UHF (Ch. 14-51)
43
48
F(50,90)
F(50,90)
51-20log(615/F)
F(50,90)
[Note 5]
Note 1: Protection would also be extended to cable TV head-ends and low power TV
receive sites that may be located outside of the protected contour of the TV
broadcasting station whose signal it receives.
9
White Space (WS) Database Specifications
Note 2: See BPR-10, Application Procedures and Rules for Digital Television (DTV)
Undertakings, Appendix 6, http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smtgst.nsf/eng/sf09574.html
Note 3: Source: BPR-4, Application Procedures and Rules for Television Broadcasting
Undertakings, Section C-1.1.17, http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smtgst.nsf/eng/sf01154.html
Note 4: Source: BPR-10, Section B-1.5.
Note 5: F is the centre frequency of the TV channel in MHz.
7.3
WSD Separation Distance from Broadcast TV Protected Contour
The effective height above average terrain (EHAAT) of the WSD shall be used in the
calculation of the minimum separation distance.
7.3.1
Determination of EHAAT for WSDs
An antenna's EHAAT is the average of the antenna's Height Above Average
Terrain (HAAT) for eight standard radials spaced every 45 degrees of azimuth
starting with true north. The height above average terrain (HAAT) is the
height of the centre of radiation of the antenna above the average elevation of
the terrain, as provided by the topographical information by the
Communications Research Centre (CRC) Topographical Database 500 or the
Canadian Digital Elevation Data (CDED), measured from 3 to 16 km from the
antenna for an individual radial. The elevation points along a radial are
averaged and then the eight standard radial averages are averaged to provide
the final EHAAT value.
Determination of HAAT does not stop at the border or over bodies of water.
HAAT incorporates the full 3 to 16 km radial segment, and will not employ
truncated radials for calculations of radial average elevations above mean sea
level (AMSL).
WSDB shall not provide any available channels on the list of available
channels to a fixed WSD if its EHAAT exceeds 250 metres or its height above
ground level (AGL) exceeds 30 metres.
A WSDB shall not indicate that any available channels on the list of available
channels are available for use by a mode I personal/portable WSD with
requested by a fixed WSD that has an EHAAT greater than 106 metres.
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White Space (WS) Database Specifications
7.3.2
i)
Separation Distance of WSD to Broadcast TV Protected Contour
When a fixed or mode II personal/portable WSD contacts a WSDB
and provides its geographic coordinates, the WSDB will calculate
which channels are available based upon the criteria below and
provide a list of those available channels to the WSD:
a. A WSDB shall ensure that fixed WSDs and mode II
personal/portable WSDs operating with power levels greater than
40 mW (16 dBm) shall operate outside the broadcast TV
protected contours of both co-channel and adjacent channel DTV
stations and at the minimum separation distances specified in
Table 3 and Table 4, respectively.
b. A WSDB shall ensure that fixed WSDs and mode II
personal/portable WSDs operating with power levels greater than
40 mW (16 dBm) shall operate outside the broadcast TV
protected contours of co-channel, adjacent channel and taboo
channels of analog TV stations (including N±1, N±2, N±3, N±4,
N±7, N±8, N+14, and N+15) and at the minimum separation
distances specified in Table 3 and Table 4, respectively.
c. A WSDB shall permit personal/portable WSDs operating with
power levels of 40 mW (16 dBm) or less to operate within the
broadcast TV protected contours of adjacent channels of TV
stations.
ii)
Fixed and mode II personal/portable WSDs must meet a table of
minimum distance separations, from the broadcast TV protected
contours as shown in Table 3 and Table 4, respectively. These
distances are specified relative to the EHAAT of the WSD.
iii)
In determining these required separations, the WSDB shall by default
include a margin of error of +/- 50 metres in the WSD location, unless
more specific information on the location accuracy of the WSD is
available.
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White Space (WS) Database Specifications
Table 3: Required Separation Distance of Fixed WSD to the Broadcast TV
Protected Contour
Distance (km)
Fixed WSD
EHAAT
(m)
Below 3
4-10
11-30
31-50
51-75
76-100
101-150
151-200
201-250
Channel
Range
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
Regular DTV
CoChannel
37.2
23.5
14.6
37.2
23.5
14.6
37.2
23.5
14.6
48.0
30.6
18.7
57.4
37.4
23.2
63.7
43.0
27.4
73.2
51.9
33.0
80.3
58.3
37.3
86.4
63.2
40.2
1st Adj
Channel
2.0
1.7
1.7
2.0
1.7
1.7
2.0
1.7
1.7
2.6
1.7
1.7
3.1
2.0
1.7
3.5
2.0
1.7
4.2
2.1
1.7
4.8
2.1
1.7
5.1
2.1
1.7
Low Power DTV
CoChannel
8.9
7.0
5.1
8.9
7.0
5.1
8.9
7.0
5.1
11.4
9.0
6.6
14.2
11.1
8.1
16.2
13.1
9.3
20.6
16.0
11.5
24.2
18.8
13.4
27.0
20.8
14.7
1st Adj
Channel
5.9
4.0
2.6
5.9
4.0
2.6
5.9
4.0
2.6
7.5
5.1
3.3
9.3
6.2
4.1
10.8
7.1
4.6
13.5
8.5
5.5
15.5
9.6
6.3
17.4
10.5
6.8
Analog TV
(Regular and LP)
1st Adj
and
Co-Channel
Taboo Channels
28.6
1.7
19.5
1.7
11.3
1.7
28.6
1.7
19.5
1.7
11.3
1.7
28.6
1.7
19.5
1.7
11.3
1.7
36.7
2.2
25.5
1.7
14.8
1.7
44.7
2.6
31.3
1.7
18.5
1.7
51.7
2.9
36.4
1.7
21.4
1.7
60.9
3.4
43.9
1.8
26.7
1.7
67.7
3.8
50.1
1.8
30.6
1.7
73.5
4.0
55.1
1.8
33.3
1.7
Note: Between channels 14-51, Channel 14 is used to derive the minimum required
distances as it represents the worse case scenario.
12
White Space (WS) Database Specifications
Table 4: Required Separation Distance of Personal/Portable Mode II WSD (100
mW) to the Broadcast TV Protected Contour
Distance (km)
Personal/Portable
Mode II WSD
EHAAT
(m)
Below 3
4-10
11-30
31-50
51-75
76-100
101-150
151-200
201-250
Channel
Range
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
2-6
7-13
14-51
Regular DTV
CoChannel
13.5
8.8
5.7
13.5
8.8
5.7
13.5
8.8
5.7
17.4
11.3
7.4
21.6
14.3
9.0
25.7
16.9
10.5
31.6
20.8
13.1
36.4
23.8
15.0
40.3
26.7
16.3
1st Adj
Channel
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
Low Power DTV
CoChannel
3.5
2.8
2.0
3.5
2.8
2.0
3.5
2.8
2.0
4.5
3.6
2.7
5.6
4.3
3.2
6.5
4.8
3.6
7.9
5.7
4.2
9.0
6.3
4.7
10.0
6.7
5.1
1st Adj
Channel
2.3
1.7
1.7
2.3
1.7
1.7
2.3
1.7
1.7
3.1
2.0
1.7
3.7
2.4
1.7
4.2
2.5
1.7
5.1
2.7
1.8
5.9
2.8
1.8
6.3
2.9
1.8
Analog TV
(Regular and LP)
CoChannel
10.6
7.4
4.6
10.6
7.4
4.6
10.6
7.4
4.6
13.7
9.5
5.8
16.9
11.9
7.2
20.0
13.9
8.3
24.9
17.3
10.2
29.1
19.9
11.8
32.1
21.9
13.0
1st Adj and
Taboo Channels
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
Note 1: Between Channels 14-51, channel 14 is used to derive the minimum required
distances as it representing the worse case scenario.
Note 2: Adjacent and taboo channel operation is permitted for personal/portable WSD
operating below 40 mW.
7.4
Protection Criteria of RRBS
A WSDB shall protect the nominal service contour around an RRBS base station, which
corresponds to a field strength of 30.8 dBμV/m at a receive antenna height of 10 m. The
13
White Space (WS) Database Specifications
RRBS nominal service contour is calculated using the F(50,90) propagation curves and
the methodology is described for in Appendix C.
7.4.1 WSD Separation Distance from RRBS Protected Contour
a) Fixed WSD to RRBS
A WSDB shall ensure that fixed WSDs operating with power levels greater than 40 mW
(16 dBm) shall operate outside the protected contours of the co-channel, the first adjacent
and second adjacent channel RRBS stations and at the minimum separation distances
specified in Table 5 below. A WSDB shall permit personal/portable WSDs operating
with power levels of 40 mW (16 dBm) or less to operate within the protected contours of
adjacent channel RRBS stations.
Table 5: Fixed WSD Separation from Remote Rural Broadband System (RRBS)
Base Station Contour
Required Separation from RRBS Base Station Contour
(km)
EHAAT of Fixed WSD
Co-channel
using F(50,10)
1st Adjacent
Channel using
F(50,50)
Less than 3 meters
2
2
3-Less than 10 meters
2
2
10-Less than 30 meters
2
2
30-Less than 50 meters
4
2
50-Less than 75 meters
9
1.6
75-Less than 100 meters
11
1.7
100-Less than 150 meters
15
1.9
150-Less than 200 meters
17
2
200-250 meters
19
2.1
2nd Adjacent
Channel
0.3
b) Mode II Personal/portable to RRBS
A WSDB shall ensure that mode II personal/portable WSDs operating with power levels
greater than 40 mW (16 dBm) shall operate outside the protected contours of the cochannel and the first adjacent channel RRBS stations and at the minimum separation
distances specified in Tables 6 below. A WSDB shall permit personal/portable WSDs
operating with power levels of 40 mW (16 dBm) or less to operate within the protected
contours of adjacent channel RRBS stations.
14
White Space (WS) Database Specifications
Table 6: Mode II Personal/Portable Separation Distance to RRBS
EHAAT of Mode II WSD
Required Separation from RRBS Base
Station Contour
(km)
Co-channel using
F(50,10)
Less than 3 meters
2
3-Less than 10 meters
2
10-Less than 30 meters
2
30-Less than 50 meters
2
50-Less than 75 meters
2
75-Less than 100 meters
2
100-Less than 150 meters
5
150-Less than 200 meters
7
200-250 meters
9
1st Adjacent
Channel[NOTE 1][NOTE 2]
0.7
Note 1: Adjacent channel operation is permitted for personal/portable WSD operating
below 40 mW.
Note 2: The adjacent channel minimum separation distance was calculated using free
space.
In determining the required separations, the WSDB shall by default include a margin of
error of +/- 50 metres in the WSD location, unless more specific information on the
location accuracy of the WSD is available.
7.5
Protection Criteria to Licensed LPA
i)
A WSDB shall provide a registration facility for licensed LPA in order to
collect location and time-of-use scheduling information.
ii)
The location may be a point, radius or polygon. Multiple registrations that
specify more than one point in the facility may be entered for very large sites.
iii)
Operators of licensed LPA may register their scheduling information directly
with a WSDB to provide information according to LPA call sign in order to
have protection from WSDs.
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White Space (WS) Database Specifications
iv)
Registered licensed LPA scheduling information will be included within the
WSDB and a WSDB shall not provide channels within the following distances
of registered licensed LPA during their indicated time of operation according
to the protection criteria outlined in Table 7.
v)
A WSDB shall ensure that updated licensed LPA scheduling information be
exchanged amongst all of the WSDBs.
vi)
A WSDB shall confirm the licence of an LPA. If none exists, the WSDB
shall reject the registration of the LPA, and return a message to contact
Industry Canada for a licence.
vii)
[Editor’s Note: Fixed LPA Scheduling Limits/Rules TBD]
viii)
[Editor’s Note: Mobile LPA Scheduling Limits/Rules TBD]
Table 7: Licensed White Space Device Separation Distances from Licensed LPA
White Space Device Characteristics
Personal/portable
Fixed
7.6
Required Co-Channel
Separation (km)
from protected LPA
400 m
400 m
1 km
Protection of Radio Astronomy
In order to protect radio astronomy observatories, a WSDB shall not permit the use of
WSDs on any channel within a distance of 2.4 km from the following coordinates:


The Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, located near Penticton, British
Colombia (Latitude 49° 19´ 12¨ North, Longitude 119° 37´ 12¨ West)
The Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario (Latitude 45° 57´ 20¨ North, Longitude
078° 04´ 23¨ West).
8.
Security
i)
A WSDB shall incorporate reasonable and reliable security measures to ensure
that WSD will not operate on occupied channels or cause interference to licensed
services or systems.
ii)
A WSDB shall employ the following security measures:
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White Space (WS) Database Specifications
9.
10.

Communication between WSDs and WSDB shall be accomplished using
secure methods (e.g. encryption) to prevent corruption or unauthorized
modification of data.

A WSDB shall ensure that the data is protected from unauthorized access,
input, manipulation, or the deliberate extraction of operational and/or
client data.
Database Access Initialization and Re-verification Procedures
i)
A WSDB shall provide fixed and mode II personal/portable WSDs with
channel availability information and included schedule changes for the
upcoming 48 hours, upon initial and re-verification of WSD contact.
ii)
A WSDB may provide available channel information to mode II
personal/portable WSDs for locations beyond their current position and
use that information to define a geographic area within which they could
operate on the same available channels at all locations.
Synchronization
i)
A WSDB shall ensure it synchronizes its data with Industry Canada
licensing information every 24 hours.
ii)
A WSDB must ensure that the scheduling information of licensed LPA is
synchronized with the other WSDBs every 15 minutes.
11.
Operation Near the Canada/U.S. Border
11.1
Background
The bands 54-60 MHz, 76-88 MHz, 174-216 MHz, 470-608 MHz and 614-698 MHz are
currently covered by the Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the
Government of the United States of America Related to the TV Broadcasting Service and
the Associated Working Arrangement, the Letter of Understanding (LOU), which covers
areas within 400 km of the border, and the Interim Agreement Between Canada and the
United States Concerning Digital Television (DTV).
These three agreements and working arrangements deal with the sharing and use of the
bands by broadcasting services operating in the United States and in Canada. In addition,
the LOU specifies that new (non-broadcasting) services shall not claim protection from
DTV stations or analog TV stations in either country.
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White Space (WS) Database Specifications
The LOU does not deal with non-broadcasting versus non-broadcasting operations in the
border area. Therefore, until such time as a new Agreement can be reached between
Canada and the United States, any authorization issued for non-broadcasting use in
Canada within 400 km of the border area must be on a no-interference, no-protection
basis with respect to broadcasting services in the United States.
11.2
Protection Criteria for U.S. Stations
[U.S. broadcasting stations, protected receive sites and LPA are to be protected to the
same criteria as specified for Canadian stations above, with the exception that protected
contours and/or operational areas will be assumed to stop at the Canada/U.S. border.]
12.
Interference Response
[A WSDB shall retain WSD technical parameters for [X] days for audit purposes in the
case of interference reports. This information shall be provided to Industry Canada on
formal request of the Department. A WSDB shall delete WSD locations after such time,
provided that no interference has been reported.]
Issued under the authority of
the Minister of Industry
Marc Dupuis
Director General
Engineering, Planning, and Spectrum Branch
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White Space (WS) Database Specifications
Appendix A
White Space Database (WSDB) Interface Evaluation Tests
A1.1
WSDB Interface Test to Connect with a Fixed WSD
A WSDB shall perform the following validations on the information provided by a fixed
WSD before initializing it:
1)
2)
3)
4)
A1.2
Industry Canada Identification Number (IC ID) for the WSD model is
certified under RSS-222
Manufacturer’s serial number of the device is not on the denied list
Geographic Coordinates are within Canada
Antenna height above ground level (AGL) is provided and is ≤ 30m
WSDB Interface with a Mode II Personal/Portable WSD Initialization
A WSDB shall perform the following validations on the information provided by a mode
II personal/portable WSD before initializing it:
1)
2)
3)
A1.3
Industry Canada Identification Number (IC ID) for the WSD model is
certified under RSS-222
Manufacturer’s serial number of the device is not on the denied list
Geographic coordinates are within Canada
Mode I Channel List through Fixed WSD with Internet
Confirm that a WSDB will not provide any available channels on the list of available
channels to a mode I through a fixed WSD with a EHAAT greater than 106 m.
A1.4
WSDB Mode I Personal/Portable WSD Validation
A WSDB shall only initialize a mode I Personal/Portable WSD if the IC ID for the WSD
model is certified under RSS-222.
A1.5
White Space Channel Availability
A WSDB shall confirm which available channels are allowable to the type of WSD (fixed
or personal/portable) under test.
A1.6
1st – Adjacent Power Reduction
A WSDB shall confirm that the geographical coordinates of a mode II within the
protected contour of a 1st-adjacent station (e.g. broadcasting, RRBS), only provide
available channels to personal/portable WSDs that have an output power limited to 40
mW e.i.r.p or less.
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White Space (WS) Database Specifications
A1.7
LPA Channel Scheduling
After providing an available channel list to a WSD, a WSDB shall register the scheduling
information and location of a LPA device(s).
A WSDB shall confirm that a previously operating WSD is no longer operating on a
channel that has been subsequently designated for LPA use.
A1.8
LPA Channel Scheduling Synchronization
WSDB will ensure that up-to-date LPA scheduling information is synchronized with
other WSDB.
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White Space (WS) Database Specifications
Appendix B
Methodology on the Derivation of the Required Separation Distance to the TV
Broadcast Protected Contours
Determination of the TV Broadcast Protected Contour
i)
The distance of the TV station to the TV protected contour is determined
by using the height above terrain (HAAT) in a particular azimuth, the ERP
in the direction of that azimuth, the predefined thresholds of the TV
protected contours as defined in Table B1 below and the F-curves.
ii)
The height above average terrain (HAAT) is the height of the centre of
radiation of the antenna above the average elevation of the terrain. It is
determined directly from the terrain elevation database every 10 degrees,
starting from true north, as measured from 3 to 16 km from the antenna for
an individual radial.
iii)
The topographical information is provided by the Communications
Research Centre (CRC) Topographical Database 500 or the Canadian
Digital Elevation Data (CDED).
iv)
In order to determine an ERP in a specific azimuth of the HAAT, the
directional antenna tabulations is used to provide the actual relative field
at every 10 degree intervals starting from true north. Individual relative
field values are then squared and multiplied by the maximum ERP which
will derive the ERP at the specific HAAT.
v)
Linear interpolation should be used to derive the HAAT and the
corresponding ERP for values in between the pre-calculated values.
Methodology used to derive the require separation distances
1. Compute the maximum allowable WSD field strengths(dBµV/m) at the protected
contours of the TV stations:
Uws=D-D/U+FB
Where, FB is the front-to-back ratio of the TV receive antenna in dB, given in the
following Table. D/U in dB is the protection ratio given in Table 1. D is the
threshold of the protected TV contours in dBuV/m as given in Table B1.
2. Once the maximum allowable WSD field strength values are computed (Uws), one can
then use the WSD’s ERP and EHAAT, together with the F(50,10) propagation
statistics to calculate the minimum required distances(Dreq) between the WSD and
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White Space (WS) Database Specifications
protected contours of the TV stations in each bands. The required separation distance
to the TV broadcast protected contours is 1.12 times Dreq, the 1.12 is used to
compensate the Front-to-Back ratio, as shown in Table B2, of the TV receiving
station when it is not at the maximum value.
Table B1: TV Protection Ratios
Type of TV station
Analog (full and low
power)
Analog (full and low
power) UHF only
Digital (full power)
Digital (low power)
Interfering Channel
Offset Relative to
Channel N
N-1
N
N+1
N–2
N+2
N-3
N+3
N-4
N+4
N-7
N+7
N-8
N+8
N+14
N+15
N–1
N
N+1
N–1
N+1
for Simple Mask**
N–1
N+1
for Stringent Mask**
N
TV Protection
Ratios
(Desired/Undesired) (dB)
-14
34
-17
-24
-28
-30
-34
-34
-25
-35
-43
-32
-43
-33
-31
-28
23
-26
-7
-12
15
**NOTE: Refer to BPR-10
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White Space (WS) Database Specifications
Table B2: Front-to-back ratio (dB)
Channels
Analog station
DTV station
2-6
6
10
7-13
6
12
14-51
6
14
Note: Due to the limitation of the F(50,10) curves, the minimum EHAAT that can be
used is 30m and the minimum distance that can be determined is 1.5 km.
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White Space (WS) Database Specifications
Appendix C
Methodology on the Derivation of the Required Separation Distance to Remote
Rural Broadband Systems (RRBS)
The required separation distances to protect RRBS are based on the following field
strengths (dBµV/m).
Table C1: RRBS Station Protection Criteria
Channel
RRBS Station Protection Criteria
(dBµV/m)
Co-Channel
37.8
1st Adjacent
69.0
2nd Adjacent
91.6
24