G/TBT/N/USA/1597/Add.1  
 
13 January 2021  
(21-0436) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication , dated  13 January 2021 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the United States of America . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Title: Unlicensed White Space Device Operations in the Television Bands  
 
Reason for Addendum:  
[  ] Comment period changed - date:   
[  ] Notified measure adopted - date:  
[X] Notified measure published - date: 12 January 2021  
[X] Notified measure enters into force - date: 11 February 2021  
[X] Text of final measure available from1:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2021-01-12/html/2020 -26706 .htm 
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2021-01-12/pdf/2020 -26706.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/USA/final_measure/21_0389_00_
e.pdf 
[  ] Notified measure withdrawn or revoked - date:  
Relevant symbol if meas ure re -notified:   
[  ] Content or scope of notified measure changed  
New deadline for comments (if applicable):   
[  ] Interpretive guidance issued and text available from1:  
[  ] Other:  
 
Description:  Unlicensed White Space Device Operations in the Television Bands  
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission  
ACTION: Final rule  
SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission revises its rules to expand the ability of unlicensed 
white space devices to deliver wireless broadband services in rural areas and areas where fewer 
broadcast television stations are on the air. The Commission als o modifies its rules to facilitate the 
development of new and innovative narrowband Internet of Things (IoT) devices in TV white spaces. 
Unlicensed white space devices operate in the VHF and UHF broadcast TV bands, a spectral region 
that has excellent prop agation characteristics that are particularly attractive for delivering wireless 
communications services over long distances, varying terrain, and into and within buildings. The 
 
1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a pdf attachment, or other 
information on where the text of the final measure and/or interpretive guidance can be obtained.  G/TBT/N/USA/1597/Add.1  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Commission adopts a number of changes to the white space device rules to spur continued growth 
of the white space ecosystem, especially for providing affordable broadband service to rural and 
unserved communities that can help close the digital divide, while at the same time protecting 
broadcast television stations in the band from harmful interference.  
DATES: Effective 11 February 2021, except for amendatory instruction 4.f. for Sec. 15.709(g)(1)(ii), 
which is delayed. The Commission will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the 
effective date.  
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMA TION: The full text of the Commission's document, Report and Order, 
FCC 20 -156, ET Docket No. 20 -36, adopted 27 October 2020 and released 28 October 2020 can be 
downloaded at https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc -increases -unlicensed -wireless -operations -tv-
white -spaces -0, or by using the search function for ET Docket No. 20 -36 on the Commission's 
Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) web page  at www.fcc.gov/ecfs.  
__________