[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 126 (Friday, June 30, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34198-34200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16077]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 2, 80, 87, and 90

[WT Docket No. 92-257, FCC 95-177]


Maritime Communications

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rule 
Making which seeks to provide adaptive regulations and improve radio 
communications capabilities in the maritime services. Specifically, the 
Commission has proposed rules to require a minimum digital selective 
calling (DSC) capability on all MF, HF, and VHF radios, permit VHF 
public coast stations to provide automated services to vessels and, on 
a secondary basis, to vehicles on land, permit inter-service sharing of 
maritime frequencies, permit maritime licensees to share VHF band 
private land mobile spectrum, permit Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) 
in the maritime and aviation services, permit ship-to-ship and ship-to-
private coast station facsimile communications, and (eliminate certain 
unnecessary regulatory burdens on the boating public. This action stems 
from the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Notice of 
Inquiry in PR Docket 92-257 which sought public comment regarding ways 
to provide a more flexible regulatory framework for the maritime 
services. Thus, the proposed rules should promote the use of advanced 
radio communications techniques on marine frequencies, eliminate 
unnecessary regulatory 

[[Page 34199]]
burdens, and promote the efficient use of maritime and aviation 
spectrum.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or before September 22, 1995, and 
reply comments must be filed on or before November 21, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Roger Noel of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-0680.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's 
Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, PR Docket No. 92-257, FCC 95-
177, adopted April 26, 1995, and released, May 25, 1995. The full text 
of this Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making is available for 
inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC 
Reference Center (Room 239) 1919 M Street, NW, Washington, DC. The 
complete text may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, 
International Transcription Services, 2100 M Street NW., Washington, DC 
20037, telephone (202) 857-3800.

Summary of Notice of Proposed Rule Making

    1. The Commission initiated the instant proceeding to update the 
maritime service rules to promote the use of new, spectrally efficient 
radio communications techniques. Maritime safety communication is a 
global issue, and thus, the Commission's maritime service rules are, in 
large part, based on requirements found in the International 
Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations and the International 
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (Safety Convention). 
Therefore, the maritime services have been slow in implementing state 
of the art communications techniques found in most other land mobile 
radio services. In order to permit the implementation of such new 
technologies, the Commission is proposing broad changes as follows:
    2. First, the Commission proposes to require a minimum digital 
selective calling (DSC) capability on all newly manufactured or 
imported MF, HF, and VHF radiotelephone transmitters by February 1, 
1997. The minimum requirements would apply to newly installed 
transmitters after February 1, 1999. DSC is an international system for 
digital signalling to automatically set up marine transmissions. After 
February 1, 1999, all U.S. compulsory vessels (large cargo ships and 
passenger ships) will be required to carry DSC equipment in order to 
facilitate international search and rescue efforts at sea. A minimum 
DSC requirement would increase safety at sea by providing a means for 
small vessels to send distress alerts to nearby ships and coast 
stations.
    3. Second, the Commission proposes to permit VHF public coast 
stations to provide automated service to vessels using any 
communications protocol readily available in the public domain. 
Further, the proposed rules would permit VHF public coast stations to 
serve vehicles on land, as a secondary service to maritime 
communications. Currently, public coast stations use a live marine 
operator to connect marine VHF radios and the public switched telephone 
network. Some public coast stations are permitted, by waiver, to serve 
vehicles on land. By permitting automation and expansion of coast 
station services, the proposed rules should increase the number of 
state of the art communications alternatives available to boaters while 
promoting competition among coast stations, cellular, and satellite 
communications providers.
    4. Third, the Commission proposes intra-service and inter-service 
frequency sharing for maritime licensees. Under the intra-service 
sharing proposal, private coast stations could apply for unassigned 
public correspondence frequencies in the 2 MHz band. Similarly, the 
inter-service sharing proposal would permit public coast stations to 
apply for unassigned private land mobile frequencies in coastal areas 
far from Railroad Radio Service and Motor Carrier Radio Service 
licensees. Both sharing proposals should promote more efficient use of 
the radio spectrum without causing harmful interference to existing 
licensees.
    6. Fourth, the Commission proposes to permit Automatic Link 
Establishment (ALE) in the 2-27.5 MHz maritime and aviation bands. 
These quality of communications in these bands is highly correlated to 
sporadic atmospheric changes and thus, experienced operators are 
currently needed to ensure speedy communications. ALE equipment 
measures the quality of all channels and quickly selects the best 
available medium. Further, ALE should promote the increased use of the 
MF and HF maritime and aviation bands by simplifying communications 
procedures.
    7. Fifth, the Commission proposes to permit facsimile transmissions 
on marine VHF channel 68 (156.425 MHz) in Alaska between ships and 
between ships and private coast stations. Currently, only voice 
communications are authorized in the private marine VHF band. The 
proposed rules should broaden the range of communications mediums 
available to ships while not causing harmful interference in the marine 
VHF band.
    8. Finally, the Commission proposes several changes to the maritime 
service rules in an effort to eliminate unnecessary regulatory burdens 
to the marine community. The proposed rules should decrease regulatory 
burdens for coast stations and ship station licensees.

5. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

Reason for Action

    The Commission proposes to (1) allow public coast stations to 
install equipment which will provide automatic interconnection between 
marine radios and the public switched telephone network, (2) authorize 
intra-service sharing of certain maritime frequencies by eliminating 
the public/private coast station distinction in the MF band and the 
commercial/non-commercial distinction in the VHF maritime band, (3) 
permit public coast stations to serve land vehicles on a secondary 
basis, (4) impose a minimum Digital Selective Calling requirement on 
future marine radios, (5) relax restrictions on narrow-band direct 
printing to take advantage of advances in technology, and (6) allow 
maritime sharing of certain Private Land Mobile frequencies.

Objectives

    We seek to (1) remove restrictions on maritime communications which 
have caused uneven use of marine communications channels, (2) promote 
efficiency and competitiveness for marine coast stations, (3) make 
better use of currently unused or underused portions of the spectrum, 
and (4) take advantage of new technologies in maritime communications.

Legal Basis

    The proposed action is authorized under Sections 4(i) and 303(r) of 
the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. Secs. 154(i) and 303(r).

Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance Requirements

    Our proposed amendment to 47 C.F.R. Sec. 80.405(c) would provide 
certain licensees with an alternative method to meet a current license-
posting requirement.

Federal Rules Which Overlap, Duplicate or Conflict With These Rules

    None.

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Description, Potential Impact, and Small Entities Involved

    Inter- and intra-service sharing of frequencies would allow better 
utilization of the radio spectrum, reduce congestion in the most 
crowded parts of the marine radio spectrum. Allowing automatic 
interconnection to the public switched telephone network and service of 
land vehicles from public coast stations would allow public coast 
stations, many of which are small businesses, to compete more 
efficiently in the communications marketplace. Requiring marine radios 
to be equipped with minimum DSC capability and relaxing narrow-band 
direct printing restrictions would take advantage of advances in 
technology to increase efficiency in spectrum use.

Any Significant Alternatives Minimizing the Impact on Small Entities 
Consistent With the Stated Objectives

    None.

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 2

    Radio.

47 CFR Part 80

    Communications equipment, Radio, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

47 CFR Part 87

    Communications equipment, Radio.

47 CFR Part 90

    Communications equipment, Radio, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-16077 Filed 6-29-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M