  Little research has been done to reliably model millimeter wave (mmWave) path
loss in rural macrocell settings, yet, models have been hastily adopted without
substantial empirical evidence. This paper studies past rural macrocell (RMa)
path loss models and exposes concerns with the current 3rd Generation
Partnership Project (3GPP) TR 38.900 (Release 14) RMa path loss models adopted
from the International Telecommunications Union - Radiocommunications (ITU-R)
Sector. This paper shows how the 3GPP RMa large-scale path loss models were
derived for frequencies below 6 GHz, yet they are being asserted for use up to
30 GHz, even though there has not been sufficient work or published data to
support their validity at frequencies above 6 GHz or in the mmWave bands. We
present the background of the 3GPP RMa path loss models and their use of odd
correction factors not suitable for rural scenarios, and show that the
multi-frequency close-in free space reference distance (CI) path loss model is
more accurate and reliable than current 3GPP and ITU-R RMa models. Using field
data and simulations, we introduce a new close-in free space reference distance
with height dependent path loss exponent model (CIH), that predicts rural
macrocell path loss using an effective path loss exponent that is a function of
base station antenna height. This work shows the CI and CIH models can be used
from 500 MHz to 100 GHz for rural mmWave coverage and interference analysis,
without any discontinuity at 6 GHz as exists in today's 3GPP and ITU-R RMa
models.
