[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 192 (Monday, October 5, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53312-53313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26524]
[[Page 53312]]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 80
[DA 98-1935]
New Orleans Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Commission is re-designing the New Orleans, Louisiana VTS
to the United States Coast Guard (Coast Guard) designated radio
protection areas for mandatory VTS. This action is in response to a
request from the Coast Guard. The re-designation of New Orleans,
Louisiana as a VTS area will allow the Coast Guard to manage vessel
traffic in a more efficient manner.
EFFECTIVE DATE: November 4, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Shaffer, (202) 418-0680,
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order,
DA 98-1935, adopted September 22, 1998, and released September 22,
1998. The full text of this Order 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 Service, Inc., 1231 20th Street, Washington, DC 20036,
telephone (202) 857-3800.
Summary of Order
1. By this Order, pursuant to delegated authority, we modify
Sec. 80.838(a) of the Commission's Rules to reinstate New Orleans,
Louisiana, to the list of the United States Coast Guard (Coast Guard)
designated radio protection areas for mandatory Vessel Traffic Services
(VTS) systems and to re-establish marine VHF Channels 11 (156.550 MHz),
12 (156.600 MHz), and 14 (156.700 MHz) as the VTS frequencies for New
Orleans. These amendments will allow the Coast Guard to manage vessel
traffic in the New Orleans area more efficiently thereby increasing
navigational safety in this busy port.
2. Background. The Coast Guard uses VTS systems as an advisory
communications service to coordinate vessel movement and prevent
collisions in large, busy port areas. Vessels report, by voice,
information related to position, navigation and conditions affecting
navigation to the Coast Guard, which tracks the vessels' movements. VTS
systems use VHF marine channels dedicated to their operations in Coast
Guard-designated VTS areas. The Coast Guard requires that certain large
ships, tow and tug boats, dredges, and floating platforms participate
in VTS systems.
3. The Commission amended its rules in 1975, at the Coast Guard's
request, to make frequencies in certain designated areas available
exclusively for VTS communications. Since then, the Commission has
added a number of VTS protection areas. Currently, Sec. 80.383 of the
Commission's Rules lists the following areas as Coast Guard designated
VTS areas: Seattle; New York, New Orleans; Houston; Prince William
Sound; Berwick Bay; Sault Ste. Marie; and San Francisco. Frequencies
allotted for VTS communications are available outside of VTS designated
areas for assignment for other purposes on a noninterference basis.
4. On May 1, 1996, the Commission adopted a Report and Order, 61 FR
26465 (May 28, 1996), in WT Docket No. 95-132 in which the Commission
delegated authority to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) to
designate radio protection areas for mandatory VTS and establish marine
channels as VTS frequencies for these areas.
5. On July 30, 1988, the Coast Guard discontinued VTS operations in
the New Orleans designated area due to budgetary constraints. As a
result, the Commission noted that the VTS frequencies in the New
Orleans VTS area would be available for use as permitted by
Sec. 80.373(f) of the Commission's Rules and that licensed operations
in the area would be authorized on a provisional basis, conditioned on
the continuation of the Coast Guard policy. It further noted that if
the Coast Guard re-established the VTS system the Commission could
require operations on these frequencies to cease or choose not to renew
the conditional licenses. By letter dated February 11, 1998, the Coast
Guard has requested that the Commission re-instate the designation of a
New Orleans VTS area under Sec. 80.383 of the Commission's Rules.
6. Discussion. We believe that reinstating New Orleans as a VTS
area will allow the Coast Guard to manage vessel traffic in that area
more efficiently and will help protect the marine environment by
preventing vessel collisions and groundings. Therefore, at the Coast
Guard's request, we are adding New Orleans (marine Channels 11, 12 and
14) to the Commission's list of designated radio protection areas for
VTS systems specified in Sec. 80.383. The radio protection area for New
Orleans will be reinstated as the rectangle between North latitudes 27
degrees and 30 minutes and 31 degrees and 30 minutes and West
longitudes 87 degrees and 30 minutes and 93 degrees. As a result, we
are amending our rules to re-establish New Orleans as a Coast Guard-
designated radio protection area for mandatory VTS communications and
to establish marine VHF Channels 11 (156.550 MHz), 12 (156.600 MHz),
and 14 (156.700 MHz) as the VTS frequencies for New Orleans.
7. We will permit private coast stations currently authorized to
operate on marine Channels 11, 12 and 14 within the New Orleans VTS
area to continue operation until the end of their current license term
on a noninterference basis. The WTB staff will assist affected
licensees in finding suitable alternative channels. No fee will be
charged for affected stations that apply for modification for an
alternative channel before their next license renewals.
8. Accordingly, it is ordered, that pursuant to the authority
contained in sections 4(i) and 303(r) of the Communications Act of
1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Secs. 154(i) and 303(r), and Sec. 0.331 of
the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 0.331, Part 80 of the Commission's rules
is amended as set forth and becomes effective November 4, 1998.
Federal Communications Commission.
Daniel B. Phythyon,
Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 80
Communications equipment, Marine safety.
Rules Changes
Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 80, is 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 80.383 is amended by revising the table in paragraph (a)
to remove footnote 1 and redesignate footnotes 2 and 3 as 1 and 2 , to
read as follows:
[[Page 53313]]
Sec. 80.383 Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) system frequencies.
* * * * *
(a) Assigned frequencies:
VESSEL TRAFFIC CONTROL FREQUENCIES
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Carrier frequencies (MHz) Geographic areas
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* * * *
*
156.550................................ New York, New Orleans,\2\
Houston, Prince William.
Sound,\2\ Berwick Bay.
156.600............................ New York, New Orleans,\2\
Houston, San Francisco,\2\
Sault Ste. Marie.\2\
156.700............................ New York, New Orleans,\2\
Seattle, San Francisco.\1\
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\1\ Private coast station licenses for the use of this frequency will
not be renewed beyond November 1, 1997. Continued use until expiration
must be on a noninterference basis to Coast Guard VTS communications.
\2\ Private coast station licenses for the use of this frequency in this
area will expire at the end of the current license term or five years
after the adopted date of the final rule, whichever comes first.
Continued use until expiration must be on a noninterference basis to
Coast Guard VTS communications.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 98-26524 Filed 10-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P