[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 79 (Monday, April 24, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21694-21695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10091]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 13 and 80

[WT Docket No. 00-48; RM-9499; FCC 00-105]


Maritime Communications

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission proposes to consolidate, 
revise and streamline Rules governing maritime communications. These 
rule changes address new international maritime requirements, improve 
the operational ability of all users of marine radios and remove 
unnecessary or duplicative requirements from the Commission's Rules. 
This proposed action will not only reduce significantly the number of 
regulations applicable to the maritime community, but by removing 
duplicative regulations, it will reduce the potential for confusion.

DATES: Comments are due July 24, 2000, Reply Comment are due August 22, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: Parties who choose to file comments by paper must file an 
original and four copies to the Commission's Secretary, Magalie Roman 
Salas, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 
12th St., SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. Comments may also be 
filed using the Commission's Electronic Filing System, which can be 
accessed via the Internet at www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Fickner or Ghassan Khalek, 
Policy and Rules Branch, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-0680.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice 
of Proposed Rule Making, WT Docket No. 00-48, FCC 00-105, adopted March 
17, 2000, and released on March 24, 2000. The full text of this Notice 
of Proposed Rule Making 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. The full 
text may also be downloaded at: www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Notices/2000/fcc00105.doc. Alternative formats are available to persons with 
disabilities by contacting Martha Contee at (202) 418-0260 or TTY (202) 
418-2555.
    In this Notice of Proposed Rule Making, the Commission seeks 
comment on the proposals: (1) To modify the Commission's Rules to 
reflect revised international standards and recommendations which were 
endorsed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the 
International Telecommunication Union (ITU), many at the initiation of 
the United States; and to reflect significant changes in IMO and ITU 
performance standards and regulations; (2) to allow radio-
teletypewriter, data, telemetry, and telecommand transmissions on 
frequencies reserved for Morse code transmissions; (3) to apply the 
Commission's Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Rules, 
or alternative safety measures, to the commercial fishing industry; (4) 
to create a new Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator License in order to 
provide a subordinate class of GMDSS license for radio operators aboard 
ships that operate exclusively within Sea Area A1

[[Page 21695]]

(an area extending approximately 20 miles from the coast); (5) to 
accept a proof of passing certificate from the United States Coast 
Guard training program, which includes both theoretical examinations 
and practical demonstrations of the candidate's ability to operate 
GMDSS equipment, as evidence that an applicant has met the obligations 
for any GMDSS operator license issued by the Commission; and (6) to 
remove the certification for Class A, B, and S emergency position 
indicating radiobeacons, which operate at 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz, due to 
their ineffectiveness in lifesaving operations.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) \1\ requires that an agency 
prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis for notice and comment 
rulemakings, unless the agency certifies that ``the rule will not, if 
promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number 
of small entities.'' \2\ In this Notice of Proposed Rule Making, the 
Commission proposes to consolidate, revise, and streamline the 
Commission's Rules governing maritime communications. The purpose of 
these proposed rule changes is to address new international maritime 
requirements, improve the operational ability of all users of 
marineradios and remove unnecessary or duplicative requirements from 
the Commission's Rules. In an effort to clarify the existing 
regulations, the Commission also proposes to make minor and non-
substantive modifications to Part 80 of the Commission's Rules. The 
proposed rule changes do not impose any additional compliance burden on 
small entities regulated by the Commission. Accordingly, the Commission 
certifies, pursuant to section 605(b) of the RFA, that the rules 
proposed in this Notice of Proposed Rule Making will not, if 
promulgated, have a significant economic impact upon a substantial 
number of small entities, as that term is defined by the RFA.\3\ The 
Commission shall send a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 
including a copy of this certification, to the Chief Counsel for 
Advocacy of the Small Business Administration in accordance with the 
RFA. We shall also publish a copy of this certification in the Federal 
Register.
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    \1\ 5 U.S.C. 603.
    \2\ 5 U.S.C. 605(b). The RFA, see 5 U.S.C. 601 et. seq., has 
been amended by the Contract With America Advancement Act of 1996, 
Public Law 104-121, 110 Stat. 847 (1996) (CWAAA). Title II of the 
CWAAA is the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 
1996.
    \3\ 5 U.S.C. 605(b).
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List of Subjects 47 CFR Parts 13 and 80

    Communications equipment, Radio.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-10091 Filed 4-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P