[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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       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.

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[FR Doc. 98-26524 Filed 10-2-98; 8:45 am]
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