[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 131 (Monday, July 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16728]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 11, 1994]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 80 and 87

[PR Docket No. 93-143; FCC 94-170]

 

Registration of 406 MHz Radiobeacons in the Marine Services and 
Aviation Services

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Commission will require registration of 406.025 MHz 
radiobeacons with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
of the United States Department of Commerce (NOAA). This action is in 
response to a request from the United States Coast Guard (Coast Guard). 
The registration of 406.025 MHz radiobeacons aid search and rescue 
personnel.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 13, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Shaffer, (202) 632-7197, Private Radio Bureau.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Report 
and Order FCC 94-170, adopted June 13, 1994, and released July 6. The 
full text of this Report and Order is available for inspection and 
copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Room 
230, 1919 M Street NW., Washington, DC. The complete text may be 
purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International 
Transcription Service, Inc., 2100 M Street, Suite 140, Washington, DC 
20037, telephone (202) 857-3800.

Summary of Report and Order

    1. The United States Coast Guard (Coast Guard) filed a petition 
(RM-8008), Public Notice No. 1894, requesting that the Commission amend 
Part 80 of the Rules, 47 CFR Part 80, to require registration of 
emergency position indicating radiobeacons (EPIRBs) operating on the 
frequency 406.025 MHz with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA). Additionally, in the Report and Order in PR 
Docket No. 92-125 (58 FR 30126, 5/26/93), the Commission stated that it 
would address separately the issue of mandatory registration of 
emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) operating on the frequency 
406.025 MHz in the Aviation Services.
    2. Beacon registration is essential to realize the full benefit of 
the 406 MHz satellite system. The Air Force, Coast Guard, NOAA and 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) agree that having 
access to registration information along with the improved location 
accuracy of the 406 MHz system can result in a reduction of the time 
needed to complete a SAR operation. NOAA and NASA estimate that 
registration will save on average 6 hours per mission. Further, NOAA 
states that its experience with voluntary registration of 406 EPIRBs 
shows that when 406 EPIRBs are registered in its database the Coast 
Guard has been able to avoid unnecessarily using SAR resources by 
screening false distress signals through telephone calls to registered 
owners. Typical mission costs of launching a single helicopter to 
locate and investigate a distress signal are approximately $4,000. The 
potential savings to the Federal government and SAR forces are 
substantial with no additional cost or burden to manufacturers and 
little burden to beacon users. The beacon user would be required to 
mail to NOAA the pre-paid, pre-addressed post card that the 
manufacturers currently provide requesting registration information. In 
view of the strong support, and because beacon registration can provide 
valuable distress information to SAR personnel concerning the type and 
size of the aircraft/vessel as well as prevent launching potentially 
dangerous missions on false distress signals, we will require that 406 
MHz ELTs and 406 MHz EPIRBs be registered in NOAA's database.
    3. We certify that the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 does not 
apply to this rule making proceeding because if the proposed rule 
amendments are promulgated, there will not be a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small business entities, as defined 
by Section 601(3) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The change 
proposed herein will have a beneficial effect on the marine and 
aviation community by enhancing information available to SAR personnel 
for use in distress situations and will not have a significant economic 
impact on any entity. The Secretary shall send a copy of this Notice of 
Proposed Rule Making, including the certification, to the Chief Counsel 
for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration in accordance with 
paragraph 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Pub. L. No. 96-354, 
94 Stat. 1164, 5 U.S.C. 601-612 (1980).

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 80

    Communications equipment, Marine safety.

47 CFR Part 87

    Communications equipment, Aviation safety.

Federal Communications Commission.
LaVera F. Marshall,
Acting Secretary.

Final Rule

    Parts 80 and 87 of Chapter I of Title 47 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations are amended as follows:

PART 80--STATIONS IN THE MARITIME SERVICES

    1. The authority citation for Part 80 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Secs. 4, 303, 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47 
U.S.C. 154, 303, unless otherwise noted. Interpret or apply 48 Stat. 
1064-1068, 1081-1105, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 151-155, 301-609; 3 UST 
3450, 3 UST 4726, 12 UST 2377.

    2. Section 80.215(d) is amended by revising the second sentence in 
Note 3 to read as follows:


Sec. 80.215  Transmitter power.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) * * *
    Note 3 * * * For cable repair ships operating on radiodetermination 
frequencies, 15 watts; see Sec. 80.375(b).
* * * * *
    3. Section 80.1061 is amended by revising the last two sentences of 
paragraph (e) and revising paragraph (f) to read as follows:


Sec. 80.1061  Special requirements for 406.025 MHz EPIRBs.

* * * * *
    (e) * * * With each marketable EPIRB unit the manufacturer or 
grantee must include a postage pre-paid registration card printed with 
the EPIRB identification code addressed to: NOAA/NESDIS, SARSAT 
Operations Division, E/SP3, Federal Building 4, Washington, DC 20233. 
The registration card must request the owner's name, address, telephone 
number, type of ship, alternate emergency contact and include the 
following statement: ``WARNING--failure to register this EPIRB with 
NOAA before installation could result in a monetary forfeiture being 
issued to the owner.''
    (f) To enhance protection of life and property it is mandatory that 
each 406.025 MHz EPIRB be registered with NOAA before installation and 
that information be kept up-to-date. Therefore, in addition to the 
identification plate or label requirements contained in Secs. 2.925, 
2.926 and 2.1003 of this Chapter, each 406.025 MHz EPIRB must be 
provided on the outside with a clearly discernable permanent plate or 
label containing the following statement: ``The owner of this 406.025 
MHz EPIRB must register the NOAA identification code contained on this 
label with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
whose address is: NOAA, NOAA/SARSAT Operations Division, E/SP3, Federal 
Building 4, Washington, D.C. 20233.'' Vessel owners shall advise NOAA 
in writing upon change of vessel or EPIRB ownership, transfer of EPIRB 
to another vessel, or any other change in registration information. 
NOAA will provide registrants with proof of registration and change of 
registration postcards.
* * * * *

PART 87--AVIATION SERVICES

    4. The authority citation for Part 87 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 
unless otherwise noted. Interpret or apply 48 Stat. 1064-1068, 1081-
1105, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 151-156, 301-609.

    5. Section 87.138 is amended by revising paragraph (d) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 87.138  Emission limitations.

* * * * *
    (d) Except for telemetry in the 1435-1535 MHz band, when the 
frequency is removed from the assigned frequency by more than 250 
percent of the authorized bandwidth for aircraft stations above 30 MHz 
and all ground stations the attenuation must be at least 43+10 
log10 pY dB.
* * * * *
    6. In Section 87.199 paragraphs (e) and (f) are revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 87.199  Special requirements for 406.025 MHz ELTs.

* * * * *
    (e) An identification code, issued by the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States Program Manager 
for the 406.025 MHz COSPAS/SARSAT satellite system, must be programmed 
in each ELT unit to establish a unique identification for each ELT 
station. With each marketable ELT unit the manufacturer or grantee must 
include a postage pre-paid registration card printed with the ELT 
identification code addressed to: NOAA/NESDIS, SARSAT Operations 
Division, E/SP3, Federal Building 4, Washington, DC 20233. The 
registration card must request the owner's name, address, telephone 
number, type of aircraft, alternate emergency contact and include the 
following statement: ``WARNING--failure to register this ELT with NOAA 
before installation could result in a monetary forfeiture being issued 
to the owner.''
    (f) To enhance protection of life and property it is mandatory that 
each 406.025 MHz ELT must be registered with NOAA before installation 
and that information be kept up-to-date. In addition to the 
identification plate or label requirements contained in Secs. 2.925, 
2.926 and 2.1003 of this Chapter, each 406.025 MHz ELT must be provided 
on the outside with a clearly discernable permanent plate or label 
containing the following statement: ``The owner of this 406.025 MHz ELT 
must register the NOAA identification code contained on this label with 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) whose 
address is: NOAA, NOAA/SARSAT Operations Division, E/SP3, Federal 
Building 4, Washington, D.C. 20233.'' Aircraft owners shall advise NOAA 
in writing upon change of aircraft or ELT ownership, or any other 
change in registration information. Fleet operators must notify NOAA 
upon transfer of ELT to another aircraft outside of the owners control, 
or an other change in registration information. NOAA will provide 
registrants with proof of registration and change of registration 
postcards.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 94-16728 Filed 7-8-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M