Interference to UHF-DTTV Channels by Unlicensed Devices

With the transition to digital terrestrial television (DTV) in the U.S. scheduled to be complete by 2009, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a notice of proposed rule making (NPRM) that, if adopted, would allow transmission by unlicensed devices on frequencies of vacated television channels. The FCC is required by statute to avoid harmful interference to licensed TV channels. This paper addresses two of the core questions related to the proposed introduction of unlicensed transmissions in the vacated TV channels: Do the proposed rules provide DTV stations adequate protection from interference from these devices? If not, what rules must be adopted to avoid harmful interference to terrestrial DTV service from these devices?