An automatic gain controller (AGC) in white space devices is configured with two operational modes. When entering a quiet time of the white space device, the AGC selects the first operational mode. The first operational mode is associated with detecting licensed signals on one or more white space channels by testing a measured received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value to determine which one of a number of the AGC's gain states should be used corresponding to a gain for application to input white space signals on the whitespace channels. When not in the quiet time, the AGC enters a second operational mode. The second operational mode sets a fixed gain state of the AGC's multiple gain states to apply in selecting one of the white space channels on which no licensed signals were detected.