[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 374-375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-176]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 0

[FCC 99-373]


Delegate Authority to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau 
Concerning Procedures for Assigning Domestic Maritime Mobile Service 
Identities (MMSIs)

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document delegates authority to the Chief, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau to enter into written agreements on a 
nondiscriminatory basis with qualified entities who desire to issue 
domestic MMSIs. The Commission takes this action to reduce unnecessary 
administrative burdens and processing delays for both the maritime 
community and the Commission.

DATES: Effective February 4, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Shaffer of the Commission's 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-0680.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. This is a summary of the Commission's Order FCC 99-373, adopted 
on November 24, 1999, and released on December 15, 1999. The full text 
of this Order is available for inspection and copying during normal 
business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Room CY A257, 445 12th 
Street, SW, Washington, DC. The complete text may be purchased from the 
Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service, 
Inc., 1231 20th Street, NW Washington, DC 20037.
    2. On March 6, 1997, we released a Public Notice stating that we 
were considering revising the procedures governing the assignment of 
maritime mobile service identities (MMSIs). We stated that we were 
considering privatizing the issuance of MMSIs by providing blocks of 
numbers to qualified entities for distribution to ship vessel 
operators. By this Public Notice, we invited qualified parties to 
express their interest in participating in distributing MMSIs to ship 
vessel operators.
    3. Our objective was to establish a procedure whereby certain 
private sector entities would (1) issue an MMSI to any U.S. vessel 
operator; (2) collect and store information in an electronic database 
about each vessel issued an MMSI; and, (3) provide database access

[[Page 375]]

to the U.S. Coast Guard. We stated that technical details for this 
procedure (e.g., where the MMSI database will reside, and how to ensure 
database access for all parties) would be developed upon mutual 
agreement between the participants, the Commission, and the U.S. Coast 
Guard. We have received letters from seven parties expressing interest 
in issuing domestic MMSIs and supporting our effort to privatize the 
procedures for issuing domestic MMSIs. We believe that multiple 
entities will allow increased options for vessel operators to choose an 
MMSI and that competition between the entities will help insure 
reasonable fees.
    4. In order to expedite the issuing of domestic MMSIs by private 
entities, we are amending Sec. 0.331 to delegate authority to the 
Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau to enter into written 
agreements on a nondiscriminatory basis with qualified entities who 
desire to issue domestic MMSIs. The form and general terms of these 
agreements will be announced at a later date by Public Notice, as well 
as the names and addresses of entities with whom we have entered into 
written agreements. This list of entities will be updated and announced 
by Public Notice as necessary. This delegation of authority will reduce 
unnecessary administrative burdens and processing delays for both the 
maritime community and the Commission and allow us to expedite the 
issuing of domestic MMSIs.
    5. Our decision to delegate authority to the Chief, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau is procedural in nature and therefore is not 
subject to the notice and comment and effective date requirements of 
the Administrative Procedures Act. See 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), (d); Kessler 
v. FCC, 326 F.2d 673 (D.C. Cir. 1963).

Ordering Clauses

    6. The authority contained in sections 4(i) and 303(r) of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 303(r), 
part 0 of the Commission's rules IS AMENDED as set forth in the rule 
changes below, effective upon the adoption date of this Order.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 0

    Administrative practice and procedure.

Federal Communications Commisson.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
    Accordingly, Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 0, 
is amended as follows:

PART 0--COMMISSION ORGANIZATION

    1. The authority citation for part 0 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Secs. 5, 48 Stat. 1068, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 155.

    2. Section 0.131 paragraph (n) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 0.131  Functions of the Bureau.

* * * * *
    (n) Administers the Commission's commercial radio operator (part 13 
of this chapter) and amateur radio programs (part 97 of this chapter) 
and the program for construction, marking and lighting of antenna 
structures (part 17 of this chapter) and the issuing maritime mobile 
service identities (MMSIs).
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[FR Doc. 00-176 Filed 1-4-00; 8:45 am]
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