47 C.F.R. Subpart C—Operating Requirements and Procedures
Title 47 - Telecommunication
All stations and required station records must be made available for inspection by authorized representatives of the Commission. (a) The power of each radio transmitter must not be more than that necessary to carry on the service for which the station is licensed. (b) Except for transmitters using single sideband and independent sideband emissions, each radio transmitter rated by the manufacturer for carrier power in excess of 100 watts must contain the instruments necessary to determine the transmitter power during its operation.
Title 47: Telecommunication
PART 80—STATIONS IN THE MARITIME SERVICES
Subpart C—Operating Requirements and Procedures
Station Requirements—General
§ 80.61 Commisson inspection of stations.
§ 80.63 Maintenance of transmitter power.
Station Requirements—Land Stations
§ 80.67 General facilities requirements for coast stations.
(a) All coast stations licensed to transmit in the band 156–162 MHz must be able to transmit and receive on 156.800 MHz and at least one working frequency in the band.
(b) All coast stations that operate telephony on frequencies in the 1605–3500 kHz band must be able to transmit and receive using J3E emission on the frequency 2182 kHz and at least one working frequency in the band.
[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 68 FR 46960, Aug. 7, 2003]
§ 80.68 Facilities requirements for public coast stations using telegraphy.
Public coast station using telegraphy must be provided with the following facilities.
(a) Stations having a frequency assignment below 150 kHz must:
(1) Transmit A1A emission on at least one working frequency within the band 100–150 kHz;
(2) Receive A1A emission on all radio channels authorized for transmission by mobile stations operating in the maritime mobile service for telegraphy within the band 100–150 kHz.
(b) Stations having a frequency assignment within the 405–525 kHz band must transmit and receive on 500 kHz and at least one working frequency in the band.
(c) Stations having frequency assignments above 4000 kHz must be equipped to receive on each of their assigned frequencies and all ship station radiotelegraphy frequencies in the same sub-band as the assigned frequency of the coast station. See subpart H of this part for the list of frequencies.
§ 80.69 Facilities requirement for public coast stations using telephony.
Public coast stations using telephony must be provided with the following facilities.
(a) When the station is authorized to use frequencies in the 1605–3500 kHz band, equipment meeting the requirements of §80.67(b) must be installed at each transmitting location.
(b) The transmitter power on the frequency 2182 kHz must not exceed 50 watts carrier power for normal operation. During distress, urgency and safety traffic, operation at maximum power is permitted.
§ 80.70 Special conditions relative to coast station VHF facilities.
(a) Coast stations which transmit on the same radio channel above 150 MHz must minimize interference by reducing radiated power, by decreasing antenna height or by installing directional antennas. Coast stations at locations separated by less than 241 kilometers (150 miles) which transmit on the same radio channel above 150 MHz must also consider a time-sharing arrangement. The Commission may order station changes if agreement cannot be reached between the involved licensees.
(b) Coast stations which transmit on a radio channel above 150 MHz and are located within interference range of any station within Canada or Mexico must minimize interference to the involved foreign station(s), and must notify the Commission of any station changes.
(c) A VHF (156–162 MHz) public coast licensee initially authorized on any of the channels listed in the table in §80.371(c)(1), or an AMTS licensee initially authorized on any of the channel blocks listed in the table in §80.385(a)(2), may transfer or assign its channel(s), or channel block(s), to another entity. If the proposed transferee or assignee is the geographic area licensee for the geographic area to which the frequency block is allocated, such transfer or assignment will be deemed to be in the public interest. However, such presumption will be rebuttable.
[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 63 FR 40063, July 27, 1998; 67 FR 48564, July 25, 2002]
§ 80.71 Operating controls for stations on land.
Each coast station, Alaska-public fixed station and Alaska-private fixed station must provide operating controls in accordance with the following:
(a) Each station using telegraphy or telephony must be capable of changeover from transmission to reception and vice versa within two seconds excluding a change in operating radio channel.
(b) During it hours of service, each station must be capable of:
(1) Commencing operation within one minute after the need to do so occurs;
(2) Discontinuing all emission within five seconds after emission is no longer desired. The emission of an unattended station in an automated multistation system at which restoration to standby is automatic on conclusion of a call must be discontinued within three seconds of the disconnect signal or, if a disconnect signal is not received, within twenty seconds after reception of the final carrier transmission from a ship station.
(c) Each station using a multichannel installation for telegraphy must be capable of changing from one telegraphy channel to any other telegraphy channel within the same sub-band below 525 kHz within five seconds. This requirement need not be met by equipment intended for use only in emergencies and not used for normal communication.
(d) Every coast station using a multi-channel installation for radiotelephony must be capable of changing from one telephony channel to another telephony channel within:
(1) Five seconds within the frequency band 1605–3500 kHz; or
(2) Three seconds within the band 156–162 MHz. This requirement also applies to marine utility stations.
§ 80.72 Antenna requirements for coast stations.
All emissions of a coast station a marine-utility station operated on shore using telephony within the frequency band 30–200 MHz must be vertically polarized.
§ 80.74 Public coast station facilities for a telephony busy signal.
A “busy” signal, when used by a public coast station in accordance with the provisions of §80.111(d), must consist of the transmission of a single audio frequency regularly interrupted, as follows:
(a) Audio frequency: Not less than 100 nor more than 1100 Hertz, provided the frequency used for this purpose will not cause auto alarms or selective-ringing devices to be operated.
(b) Rate of interruption: 60 times per minute ±10%.
(c) Duration of each interruption: 0.5 second ±10%.
§ 80.76 Requirements for land station control points.
Each coast or fixed station subject to this part must have the following facilities:
(a) Except for marine utility stations, a visual indication of antenna current; or a pilot lamp, meter or equivalent device which provides continuous visual indication whenever the transmitter control circuits have been actuated.
(b) Capability to aurally monitor all transmissions originating at dispatch points and to disconnect the dispatch points from the transmitter or to terminate the operation of the transmitter.
(c) Facilities which will permit the responsible operator to turn the carrier of the radio transmitter on and off at will.
Station Requirements—Ship Stations
§ 80.79 Inspection of ship station by a foreign Government.
The Governments or appropriate administrations of countries which a ship visits may require the license of the ship station or ship earth station to be produced for examination. When the license cannot be produced without delay or when irregularities are observed, Governments or administrations may inspect the radio installations to satisfy themselves that the installation conforms to the conditions imposed by the Radio Regulations.
§ 80.80 Operating controls for ship stations.
(a) Each control point must be capable of:
(1) Starting and discontinuing operation of the station;
(2) Changing frequencies within the same sub-band;
(3) Changing from transmission to reception and vice versa.
(4) In the case of stations operating in the 156–162 MHz bands, reducing power output to one watt or less in accordance with §80.215(e).1
1 Ship station transmitters, except hand-held portable transmitters, manufactured after January 21, 1987 must automatically reduce the carrier power to one watt or less when turned to the frequency 156.375 MHz or 156.650 MHz. All ship station tramsmitters, except hand-held portable transmitters, used after January 21, 1997, must automatically reduce power as described above. A manual override device must be provided which when held by the operator will permit full carrier power operation on channels 13 and 67. Hand-held portable transmitters must be capable of reducing power to one watt, but need not do so automatically.
(b) Each ship station using telegraphy must be capable of changing from telegraph transmission to telegraph reception and vice versa without manual switching.
(c) Each ship station using telephony must be capable of changing from transmission to reception and vice versa within two seconds excluding a change in operating radio channel.
(d) During its hours of service, each ship station must be capable of:
(1) Commencing operation within one minute;
(2) Discontinuing all emission within five seconds after emission is no longer desired.
(e) Each ship station using a multi-channel installation for telegraphy (except equipment intended for use only in emergencies on frequencies below 515 kHz) must be capable of changing from one radio channel to another within:
(1) Five seconds if the channels are within the same sub-band; or
(2) Fifteen seconds if the channels are not within the same sub-band.
(f) Each ship station and marine-utility station using a multi-channel installation for telephony must be capable of changing from one radio channel to another within:
(1) Five seconds within the band 1605–3500 kHz; or
(2) Three seconds within the band 156–162 MHz.
(g)(1) Any telegraphy transmitter constructed since January 1, 1952, that operates in the band 405–525 kHz with an output power in excess of 250 watts must be capable of reducing the output power to 150 watts or less.
(2) The requirement of paragraph (g)(1) of this section does not apply when there is available in the same station a transmitter capable of operation on the international calling frequency 500 kHz and at least one working frequency within the band 405–525 kHz, capable of being energized by a source of power other than an emergency power source and not capable of an output in excess of 100 watts when operated on such frequencies.
[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 52 FR 35244, Sept. 18, 1987]
§ 80.81 Antenna requirements for ship stations.
All telephony emissions of a ship station or a marine utility station on board ship within the frequency band 30–200 MHz must be vertically polarized.
§ 80.83 Protection from potentially hazardous RF radiation.
Any license or renewal application for a ship earth station that will cause exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation in excess of the RF exposure guidelines specified in §1.1307(b) of the Commission's Rules must comply with the environmental processing rules set forth in §§1.1301–1.1319 of this chapter.
[53 FR 28225, July 27, 1988]
Operating Procedures—General
§ 80.86 International regulations applicable.
In addition to being regulated by these rules, the use and operation of stations subject to this part are governed by the Radio Regulations and the radio provisions of all other international agreements in force to which the United States is a party.
§ 80.87 Cooperative use of frequency assignments.
Each radio channel is available for use on a shared basis only and is not available for the exclusive use of any one station or station licensee. Station licensees must cooperate in the use of their respective frequency assignments in order to minimize interference and obtain the most effective use of the authorized radio channels.
§ 80.88 Secrecy of communication.
The station licensee, the master of the ship, the responsible radio operators and any person who may have knowledge of the radio communications transmitted or received by a fixed, land, or mobile station subject to this part, or of any radiocommunication service of such station, must observe the secrecy requirements of the Communications Act and the Radio Regulations. See sections 501, 502, and 705 of the Communications Act and Article 23 of the Radio Regulations.
§ 80.89 Unauthorized transmissions.
Stations must not:
(a) Engage in superfluous radiocommunication.
(b) Use telephony on 243 MHz.
(c) Use selective calling on 2182 kHz or 156.800 MHz.
(d) When using telephony, transmit signals or communications not addressed to a particular station or stations. This provision does not apply to the transmission of distress, alarm, urgency, or safety signals or messages, or to test transmissions.
(e) Transmit while on board vessels located on land unless authorized under a public coast station license. Vessels in the following situations are not considered to be on land for the purposes of this paragraph:
(1) Vessels which are aground due to a distress situation;
(2) Vessels in drydock undergoing repairs; and
(3) State or local government vessels which are involved in search and rescue operations including related training exercises.
(f) Transmit on frequencies or frequency bands not authorized on the current station license.
[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 52 FR 35244, Sept. 18, 1987; 62 FR 40304, July 28, 1997; 68 FR 46960, Aug. 7, 2003]
§ 80.90 Suspension of transmission.
Transmission must be suspended immediately upon detection of a transmitter malfunction and must remain suspended until the malfunction is corrected, except for transmission concerning the immediate safety of life or property, in which case transmission must be suspended as soon as the emergency is terminated.
§ 80.91 Order of priority of communications.
(a) All stations in the maritime mobile service and the maritime mobile-satellite service shall be capable of offering four levels of priority in the following order:
(1) Distress calls, distress messages, and distress traffic.
(2) Urgency communications.
(3) Safety communications.
(4) Other communications.
(b) In a fully automated system, where it is impracticable to offer all four levels of priority, category 1 shall receive priority until such time as intergovernmental agreements remove exemptions granted for such systems from offering the complete order of priority.
[68 FR 46960, Aug. 7, 2003]
§ 80.92 Prevention of interference.
(a) The station operator must determine that the frequency is not in use by monitoring the frequency before transmitting, except for transmission of signals of distress.
(b) When a radiocommunication causes interference to a communication which is already in progress, the interfering station must cease transmitting at the request of either party to the existing communication. As between nondistress traffic seeking to commence use of a frequency, the priority is established under §80.91.
(c) Except in cases of distress, communications between ship stations or between ship and aircraft stations must not interfere with public coast stations. The ship or aircraft stations which cause interference must stop transmitting or change frequency upon the first request of the affected coast station.
§ 80.93 Hours of service.
(a) All stations. All stations whose hours of service are not continuous must not suspend operation before having concluded all communication required in connection with a distress call or distress traffic.
(b) Public coast stations. (1) Each public coast station whose hours of service are not continuous must not suspend operation before having concluded all communication involving messages or calls originating in or destined to mobile stations within range and mobile stations which have indicated their presence.
(2) Unless otherwise authorized by the Commission upon adequate showing of need, each public coast station authorized to operate on frequencies in the 3000–23,000 kHz band must maintain continuous hours of service.
(c) Compulsory ship stations. (1) Compulsory ship stations whose service is not continuous may not suspend operation before concluding all traffic originating in or destined for public coast stations situated within their range and mobile stations which have indicated their presence.
(2) For GMDSS ships, radios shall be turned on and set to proper watch channels while ships are underway. If a ship has duplicate GMDSS installations for DSC or INMARSAT, only one of each must be turned on and keeping watch.
(d) Ships voluntarily fitting GMDSS subsystems. For ships voluntarily fitting GMDSS subsystems, radios shall be turned on and set to proper watch channels while ships are underway. If ship has duplicate GMDSS installations for DSC or INMARSAT, only one of each must be turned on and keeping watch.
(e) Other than public coast or compulsory ship stations. The hours of service of stations other than those described in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section are determined by the station licensee.
[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 68 FR 46960, Aug. 7, 2003]
§ 80.94 Control by coast or Government station.
When communicating with a coast station or any Government station in the maritime mobile service, ship stations must comply with the instruction given by the coast station or Government station relative to the order and time of transmission, the choice of frequency, the suspension of communication and the permissible type of message traffic that may be transmitted. This provision does not apply in the event of distress.
§ 80.95 Message charges.
(a) Except as specified in §20.15(c) of this chapter with respect to commercial mobile radio service providers, charges must not be made for service of:
(1) Any public coast station unless tariffs for the service are on file with the Commission;
(2) Any station other than a public coast station or an Alaska—public fixed station, except cooperatively shared stations covered by §80.503;
(3) Distress calls and related traffic; and
(4) Navigation hazard warnings preceded by the SAFETY signal.
(b) The licensee of each ship station is responsible for the payment of all charges accruing to any other station(s) or facilities for the handling or forwarding of messages or communications transmitted by that station.
(c) In order to be included in the ITU List of Coast Stations public coast stations must recognize international Accounting Authority Identification Codes (AAIC) for purposes of billing and accounts settlement in accordance with Article 66 of the Radio Regulations. Stations which elect not to recognize international AAIC's will be removed from the ITU List of Coast Stations.
[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 52 FR 35244, Sept. 18, 1987; 69 FR 64671, Nov. 8, 2004]
§ 80.96 Maintenance tests.
Stations are authorized to engage in test transmissions necessary for maintenance of the station. Test transmissions must conform to appropriate test operating procedures.
§ 80.97 Radiotelegraph operating procedures.
This section applies to ships and coast stations authorized to transmit in the band 405–525 kHz.
(a) Except for the transmission of distress or urgency signals, all transmissions must cease within the band 485–515 kHz during each 500 kHz silence period.
(b) Stations transmitting telegraphy must use the service abbreviations (“Q” code) listed in Appendix 14 to the Radio Regulations.
(c) The call consists of:
(1) The call sign of the station called, not more than twice; the word “DE” and the call sign of the calling station, not more than twice; if useful, the frequency on which the called station should reply; and the letter “K”.
(2) If the call is transmitted twice at an interval of not less than one minute, it must not be repeated until after an interval of three minutes.
(d) The reply to calls consists of: The call sign of the calling station, not more than twice; the word “DE”; and the call sign of the station called, once only.
§ 80.98 Radiotelegraph testing procedures.
Stations authorized to use telegraphy may conduct tests on any assigned frequency. Emissions must not cause harmful interference. When radiation is necessary the radiotelegraph testing procedure described in this paragraph must be followed:
(a) The operator must not interfere with transmissions in progress.
(b) The operator must transmit “IE” (two dots, space, one dot) on the test frequency as a warning that test emissions are about to be made.
(c) If any station transmits “AS” (wait), testing must be suspended. When transmission of “IE” is resumed and no response is heard, the test may proceed.
(d) Test signals composed of a series of “VVV” having a duration of not more than ten seconds, followed by the call sign of the testing station will be transmitted. The call sign must be sent clearly at a speed of approximately 10 words per minute. This test transmission must not be repeated until a period of at least one minute has elapsed.
[69 FR 64671, Nov. 8, 2004]
§ 80.99 Radiotelegraph station identification.
This section applies to coast, ship and survival craft stations authorized to transmit in the band 405–525 kHz.
(a) The station transmitting radiotelegraph emissions must be identified by its call sign. The call sign must be transmitted with the telegraphy emission normally used by the station. The call sign must be transmitted at 20 minute intervals when transmission is sustained for more than 20 minutes. When a ship station is exchanging public correspondence communications, the identification may be deferred until completion of each communication with any other station.
(b) The requirements of this section do not apply to survival craft stations when transmitting distress signals automatically or when operating on 121.500 MHz for radiobeacon purposes.
(c) Emergency position indicating radiobeacon stations do not require identification.
§ 80.100 Morse code requirement.
The code employed for telegraphy must be the Morse code specified in the Telegraph Regulations annexed to the International Telecommunication Convention. Pertinent extracts from the Telegraph Regulations are contained in the “Manual for Use by the Maritime Mobile and Maritime Mobile-Satellite Services” published by the International Telecommunication Union.
§ 80.101 Radiotelephone testing procedures.
This section is applicable to all stations using telephony except where otherwise specified.
(a) Station licensees must not cause harmful interference. When radiation is necessary or unavoidable, the testing procedure described below must be followed:
(1) The operator must not interfere with transmissions in progress.
(2) The testing station's call sign, followed by the word “test”, must be announced on the radio-channel being used for the test.
(3) If any station responds “wait”, the test must be suspended for a minimum of 30 seconds, then repeat the call sign followed by the word “test” and listen again for a response. To continue the test, the operator must use counts or phrases which do not conflict with normal operating signals, and must end with the station's call sign. Test signals must not exceed ten seconds, and must not be repeated until at least one minute has elapsed. On the frequency 2182 kHz or 156.800 MHz, the time between tests must be a minimum of five minutes.
(b) Testing of transmitters must be confined to single frequency channels on working frequencies. However, 2182 kHz and 156.800 MHz may be used to contact ship or coast stations as appropriate when signal reports are necessary. Short tests on 4125 kHz are permitted by vessels equipped with MF/HF radios to evaluate the compatibility of the equipment for distress and safety purposes. U.S. Coast Guard stations may be contacted on 2182 kHz or 156.800 MHz for test purposes only when tests are being conducted by Commission employees, when FCC-licensed technicians are conducting inspections on behalf of the Commission, when qualified technicians are installing or repairing radiotelephone equipment, or when qualified ship's personnel conduct an operational check requested by the U.S. Coast Guard. In these cases the test must be identified as “FCC” or “technical.”
(c) Survival craft transmitter tests must not be made within actuating range of automatic alarm receivers.
[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 63 FR 29659, June 1, 1998; 68 FR 46961, Aug. 7, 2003]
§ 80.102 Radiotelephone station identification.
This section applies to all stations using telephony which are subject to this part.
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section, stations must give the call sign in English. Identification must be made:
(1) At the beginning and end of each communication with any other station.
(2) At 15 minute intervals when transmission is sustained for more than 15 minutes. When public correspondence is being exchanged with a ship or aircraft station, the identification may be deferred until the completion of the communications.
(b) Private coast stations located at drawbridges and transmitting on the navigation frequency 156.650 MHz may identify by use of the name of the bridge in lieu of the call sign.
(c) Ship stations transmitting on any authorized VHF bridge-to-bridge channel may be identified by the name of the ship in lieu of the call sign.
(d) Ship stations operating in a vessel traffic service system or on a waterway under the control of a U.S. Government agency or a foreign authoriy, when communicating with such an agency or authority may be identified by the name of the ship in lieu of the call sign, or as directed by the agency or foreign authority.
(e) Voice traffic in the INMARSAT system is closed to other parties except the two stations involved and the identification is done automatically with the establishment of the call. Therefore, it is not necessary for these stations to identify themselves periodically during the communication. For terrestrial systems using DSC to establish radiotelephone communications, the identification is made at the beginning of the call. In these cases, both parties must identify themselves by ship name, call sign or MMSI at least once every 15 minutes during radiotelephone communications.
(f) VHF public coast stations licensed to serve a predetermined geographic service area are not required to provide station identification under this section. A site-based VHF public coast station may identify by means of the approximate geographic location of the station or the area it serves when it is the only VHF public coast station serving the location or there will be no conflict with the identification of any other station.
[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 52 FR 35244, Sept. 18, 1987; 68 FR 46961, Aug. 7, 2003; 69 FR 64671, Nov. 8, 2004]
§ 80.103 Digital selective calling (DSC) operating procedures.
(a) Operating procedures for the use of DSC equipment in the maritime mobile service are as contained in ITU-R M.541–8, “Operational Procedures for the Use of Digital Selective-Calling Equipment in the Maritime Mobile Service,” with Annexes, 1997, and subpart W of this part.
(b) When using DSC techniques, coast stations and ship stations must use maritime mobile service identities (MMSI) assigned by the Commission or its designees.
(c) DSC acknowledgement of DSC distress and safety calls must be made by designated coast stations and such acknowledgement must be in accordance with procedures contained in ITU-R M.541–8, “Operational Procedures for the Use of Digital Selective-Calling Equipment in the Maritime Mobile Service,” with Annexes, 1997. Nondesignated public and private coast stations must follow the guidance provided for ship stations in ITU-R M.541–8, “Operational Procedures for the Use of Digital Selective-Calling Equipment in the Maritime Mobile Service,” with Annexes, 1997, with respect to DSC “Acknowledgement of distress calls” and “Distress relays.” (See subpart W of this part.)
(d) Group calls to vessels under the common control of a single entity are authorized. A group call identity may be created from an MMSI ending in a zero, assigned to this single entity, by deleting the trailing zero and adding a leading zero to the identity.
(e) ITU-R M.541–8 with Annexes, 1997, is incorporated by reference. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part 51. Copies of this standard can be inspected at the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC (Reference Information Center) or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. The ITU-R Recommendation can be purchased from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Place des Nations, CH–1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland.
[68 FR 46961, Aug. 7, 2003]
§ 80.104 Identification of radar transmissions not authorized.
This section applies to all maritime radar transmitters except radar beacon stations.
(a) Radar transmitters must not transmit station identification.
(b) [Reserved]
Operating Procedures—Land Stations
§ 80.105 General obligations of coast stations.
Each coast station or marine-utility station must acknowledge and receive all calls directed to it by ship or aircraft stations. Such stations are permitted to transmit safety communication to any ship or aircraft station. VHF (156–162 MHz) and AMTS (216–220 MHz) public coast stations may provide fixed or hybrid services on a co-primary basis with mobile operations.
[65 FR 77824, Dec. 13, 2000]
§ 80.106 Intercommunication in the mobile service.
(a) Each public coast station must exchange radio communications with any ship or aircraft station at sea; and each station on shipboard or aircraft at sea must exchange radio communications with any other station on shipboard or aircraft at sea or with any public coast station.
(b) Each public coast station must acknowledge and receive all communications from mobile stations directed to it, transmit all communications delivered to it which are directed to mobile stations within range in accordance with their tariffs. Discrimination in service is prohibited.
§ 80.107 Service of private coast stations and marine-utility stations.
A private coast station or a marine-utility station is authorized to transmit messages necessary for the private business and operational needs of ships and the safety of aircraft.
§ 80.108 Transmission of traffic lists by coast stations.
(a) Each coast station is authorized to transmit lists of call signs in alphabetical order of all mobile stations for which they have traffic on hand. These traffic lists will be transmitted on the station's normal working frequencies at intervals of:
(1) In the case of telegraphy, at least two hours and not more than four hours during the working hours of the coast station.
(2) In the case of radiotelephony, at least one hour and not more than four hours during the working hours of the coast station.
(b) The announcement must be as brief as possible and must not be repeated more than twice. Coast stations may announce on a calling frequency that they are about to transmit call lists on a specific working frequency.
§ 80.109 Transmission to a plurality of mobile stations by a public coast station.
Group calls to vessels under the common control of a single entity and information for the general benefit of mariners including storm warnings, ordinary weather, hydrographic information and press materials may be transmitted by a public coast station simultaneously to a plurality of mobile stations.
§ 80.110 Inspection and maintenance of antenna structure markings and associated control equipment.
The owner of each antenna structure required to be painted and/or illuminated under the provisions of Section 303(q) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, shall operate and maintain the antenna structure painting and lighting in accordance with part 17 of this chapter. In the event of default by the owner, each licensee or permittee shall be individually responsible for conforming to the requirements pertaining to antenna structure painting and lighting.
[61 FR 4368, Feb. 6, 1996]
§ 80.111 Radiotelephone operating procedures for coast stations.
This section applies to all coast stations using telephony which are subject to this part.
(a) Limitations on calling. (1) Except when transmitting a general call to all stations for announcing or preceding the transmission of distress, urgency, or safety messages, a coast station must call the particular station(s) with which it intends to communicate.
(2) Coast stations must call ship stations by voice unless it is known that the particular ship station may be contacted by other means such as automatic actuation of a selective ringing or calling device.
(3) Coast stations may be authorized emission for selective calling on each working frequency.
(4) Calling a particular station must not continue for more than one minute in each instance. If the called station does not reply, that station must not again be called for two minutes. When a called station does not reply to a call sent three times at intervals of two minutes, the calling must cease for fifteen minutes. However, if harmful interference will not be caused to other communications in progress, the call may be repeated after three minutes.
(5) A coast station must not attempt to communicate with a ship station that has specifically called another coast station until it becomes evident that the called station does not answer, or that communication between the ship station and the called station cannot be carried on because of unsatisfactory operating conditions.
(6) Calls to establish communication must be initiated on an available common working frequency when such a frequency exists and it is known that the called ship maintains a simultaneous watch on the common working frequency and the appropriate calling frequency(ies).
(b) Time limitation on calling frequency. Transmissions by coast stations on 2182 kHz or 156.800 MHz must be minimized and any one exchange of communications must not exceed one minute in duration.
(c) Change to working frequency. After establishing communications with another station by call and reply on 2182 kHz or 156.800 MHz coast stations must change to an authorized working channel for the transmission of messages.
(d) Use of busy signal. A coast station, when communicating with a ship station which transmits to the coast station on a radio channel which is a different channel from that used by the coast station for transmission, may transmit a “busy” signal whenever transmission from the ship station is being received. The characteristics of the “busy” signal are contained in §80.74.
[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 52 FR 35244, Sept. 18, 1987]
Operating Procedures—Ship Stations
§ 80.114 Authority of the master.
(a) The service of each ship station must at all times be under the ultimate control of the master, who must require that each operator or such station comply with the Radio Regulations in force and that the ship station is used in accordance with those regulations.
(b) These rules are waived when the vessel is under the control of the U.S. Government.
§ 80.115 Operational conditions for use of associated ship units.
(a) Associated ship units may be operated under a ship station authorization. Use of an associated ship unit is restricted as follows;
(1) It must only be operated on the safety and calling frequency 156.800 MHz or on commercial or noncommercial VHF intership frequencies appropriate to the class of ship station with which it is associated.
(2) Except for safety purposes, it must only be used to communicate with the ship station with which it is associated or with associated ship units of the same ship station. Such associated ship units may not be used from shore.
(3) It must be equipped to transmit on the frequency 156.800 MHz and at least one appropriate intership frequency.
(4) Calling must occur on the frequency 156.800 MHz unless calling and working on an intership frequency has been prearranged.
(5) Power is limited to one watt.
(6) The station must be identified by the call sign of the ship station with which it is associated and an appropriate unit designator.
(b) State or local government vehicles used to tow vessels involved in search and rescue operations are authorized to operate on maritime mobile frequencies as associated ship units. Such operations must be in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, except that the associated ship unit: May be operated from shore; may use Distress, Safety and Calling, Intership Safety, Liaison, U.S. Coast Guard, or Maritime Control VHF intership frequencies; and may have a transmitter power of 25 watts.
§ 80.116 Radiotelephone operating procedures for ship stations.
(a) Calling coast stations. (1) Use by ship stations of the frequency 2182 kHz for calling coast stations and for replying to calls from coast stations is authorized. However, such calls and replies should be on the appropriate ship-shore working frequency.
(2) Use by ship stations and marine utility stations of the frequency 156.800 MHz for calling coast stations and marine utility stations on shore, and for replying to calls from such stations, is authorized. However, such calls and replies should be made on the appropriate ship-shore working frequency.
(b) Calling ship stations. (1) Except when other operating procedure is used to expedite safety communication, ship stations, before transmitting on the intership working frequencies 2003, 2142, 2638, 2738, or 2830 kHz, must first establish communications with other ship stations by call and reply on 2182 kHz. Calls may be initiated on an intership working frequency when it is known that the called vessel maintains a simultaneous watch on the working frequency and on 2182 kHz.
(2) Except when other operating procedures are used to expedite safety communications, the frequency 156.800 MHz must be used for call and reply by ship stations and marine utility stations before establishing communication on one of the intership working frequencies. Calls may be initiated on an intership working frequency when it is known that the called vessel maintains a simultaneous watch on the working frequency and on 156.800 MHz.
(c) Change to working frequency. After establishing communication with another station by call and reply on 2182 kHz or 156.800 MHz stations on board ship must change to an authorized working frequency for the transmission of messages.
(d) Limitations on calling. Calling a particular station must not continue for more than 30 seconds in each instance. If the called station does not reply, the station must not again be called until after an interval of 2 minutes. When a called station called does not reply to a call sent three times at intervals of 2 minutes, the calling must cease and must not be renewed until after an interval of 15 minutes; however, if there is no reason to believe that harmful interference will be caused to other communications in progress, the call sent three times at intervals of 2 minutes may be repeated after a pause of not less than 3 minutes. In event of an emergency involving safety, the provisions of this paragraph do not apply.
(e) Limitations on working. Any one exchange of communications between any two ship stations on 2003, 2142, 2638, 2738, or 2830 kHz or between a ship station and a private coast station on 2738 or 2830 kHz must not exceed 3 minutes after the stations have established contact. Subsequent to such exchange of communications, the same two stations must not again use 2003, 2142, 2638, 2738, or 2830 kHz for communication with each other until 10 minutes have elapsed.
(f) Transmission limitation on 2182 kHz and 156.800 MHz. To facilitate the reception of distress calls, all transmissions on 2182 kHz and 156.800 MHz (channel 16) must be minimized and transmissions on 156.800 MHz must not exceed 1 minute.
(g) Limitations on commercial communication. On frequencies in the band 156–162 MHz, the exchange of commercial communication must be limited to the minimum practicable transmission time. In the conduct of ship-shore communication other than distress, stations on board ship must comply with instructions given by the private coast station or marine utility station on shore with which they are communicating.
[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 68 FR 46961, Aug. 7, 2003]
Special Procedures—Public Coast Stations
§ 80.121 Public coast stations using telegraphy.
(a) Narrow-band direct-printing (NB-DP) operating procedures. (1) When both terminals of the NB-DP circuit are satisfied that the circuit is in operable condition, the message preamble must be transmitted in the following format:
(i) One carriage return and one line feed,
(ii) Serial number or number of the message,
(iii) The name of the office of origin,
(iv) The number of words,
(v) The date of handing in of the message,
(vi) The time of handing in of the message, and
(vii) Any service instructions. (See The ITU “Manual for Use by the Maritime Mobile and Maritime Mobile-Satellite Services”.)
(2) Upon completion of transmission of the preamble, the address, text and signature must be transmitted as received from the sender.
(3) Upon completion of transmission of the signature the coast station must, following the signal “COL”, routinely repeat all service indications in the address and for figures or mixed groups of letters, figures or signs in the address, text or signature.
(4) In telegrams of more than 50 words, routine repetition must be given at the end of each page.
(5) Paragraphs (a) (1) through (4) of this section need not be followed when a direct connection is employed.
(6) In calling ship stations by narrow-band direct-printing, the coast station must use the ship station selective calling number (5 digits) and its assigned coast station identification number (4 digits). Calls to ship stations must employ the following format: Ship station selective call number, repeated twice; “DE”, sent once; and coast station identification number, repeated twice. When the ship station does not reply to a call sent three times at intervals of two minutes, the calling must cease and must not be renewed until after an interval of fifteen minutes.
(7) A public coast station authorized to use NB-DP frequencies between 4000 kHz and 27500 kHz may use class A1A emission on the “mark” frequency for station identification and for establishing communications with ship stations. The radio station license must reflect authority for this type of operation, and harmful interference must not be caused.
(b) Watch on ship calling frequencies. (1) Public coast stations using telegraphy must maintain a continuous watch during their working hours for calls from ship stations on frequencies in the same band(s) in which the coast station is licensed to operate. See subpart H of this part.
(2) Such station must employ receivers which are capable of being accurately set to any designated calling frequency in each band for which the receiver is intended to operate. The time required to set the receiver to a frequency must not exceed five seconds. The receiver must have a long term frequency stability of not more than 50 Hz and a minimum sensitivity of two microvolts across receiver input terminals of 50 ohms, or equivalent. The audio harmonic distortion must not exceed five percent at any rated output power.
(c) Radiotelegraph frequencies. Radiotelegraph frequencies available for assignment to public coast stations are contained in subpart H of this part.
§ 80.122 Public coast stations using facsimile and data.
Facsimile operations are a form of telegraphy for the transmission and receipt of fixed images between authorized coast and ship stations. Facsimile and data techniques may be implemented in accordance with the following paragraphs.
(a) Supplemental Eligibility Requirements. Public coast stations are eligible to use facsimile and data techniques with ship stations.
(b) Assignment and use of frequencies. (1) Frequencies in the 2000–27500 kHz bands in part 2 of this chapter as available for shared use by the maritime mobile service and other radio services are assignable to public coast stations for providing facsimile communications with ship stations. Additionally, frequencies in the 156–162 MHz and 216–220 MHz bands available for assignment to public coast stations for radiotelephone communications that are contained in subpart H of this part are also available for facsimile and data communications.
(2) Equipment used for facsimile and data operations is subject to the applicable provisions of subpart E of this part.
(3) The use of voice on frequencies authorized for facsimile operations in the bands 2000–27500 kHz listed in subpart H of this part is limited to setup and confirmation of receipt of facsimile transmissions.
[57 FR 43407, Sept. 21, 1992, as amended at 67 FR 48564, July 25, 2002]
§ 80.123 Service to stations on land.
Marine VHF public coast stations, including AMTS coast stations, may provide public correspondence service to stations on land in accordance with the following:
(a) The public coast station licensee must provide each associated land station with a letter, which shall be presented to authorized FCC representatives upon request, acknowledging that the land station may operate under the authority of the associated public coast station's license:
(b) Each public coast station serving stations on land must afford priority to marine-originating communications through any appropriate electrical or mechanical means.
(c) Land station identification shall consist of the associated public coast station's call sign, followed by a unique numeric or alphabetic unit identifier;
(d) Radio equipment used on land must be type accepted for use under part 22, part 80, or part 90 of this chapter. Such equipment must operate only on the public correspondence channels authorized for use by the associated public coast station;
(e) Transmitter power shall be in accordance with the limits set in §80.215 for ship stations and antenna height shall be limited to 6.1 meters (20 feet) above ground level;
(f) Land stations may only communicate with public coast stations and must remain within radio range of associated public coast stations; and,
(g) The land station must cease operation immediately upon written notice by the Commission to the associated public coast station that the land station is causing harmful interference to marine communications.
[62 FR 40304, July 28, 1997]
Special Procedures—Private Coast Stations
§ 80.131 Radioprinter operations.
Radioprinter operations provide a relatively low cost system of record communications between authorized coast and ship stations in accordance with the following paragraphs.
(a) Supplementary eligibility requirement. A radioprinter authorization for a private coast station may be issued to the owner or operator of a ship of less than 1600 gross tons, a community of ships all of which are less than 1600 gross tons, or an association whose members operate ships of less than 1600 gross tons.
(b) Scope of communications. Only those communications which concern the business and operational needs of vessels are authorized.
(c) Assignment and use of frequencies. (1) Frequencies may be assigned to private coast stations for radioprinter use from the appropriate bands listed in subpart H of this part.
(2) Frequencies in the listed bands are shared with other radio services including the maritime mobile service. Each assigned frequency is available on a shared use basis only, not for the exclusive use of any one station or licensee.
(d) Coast station responsibilities. (1) Private coast stations must propose frequencies and provide the names of ships to be served with the application.
(2) Private coast station licensees must provide copies of their license to all ships with which they are authorized to conduct radioprinter operations.
§ 80.133 Private coast stations using facsimile in Alaska.
Facsimile techniques may be implemented in accordance with the following paragraphs.
(a) Private coast stations in Alaska are eligible to use facsimile techniques with associated ship stations and other private coast stations in accordance with §80.505(b).
(b) The frequency 156.425 MHz is assigned by rule to private coast stations in Alaska for facsimile transmissions.
(c) Equipment used for facsimile operations is subject to the applicable provisions of subpart E of this part.
[62 FR 40305, July 28, 1997]
Special Procedures—Ship Stations
§ 80.141 General provisions for ship stations.
(a) Points of communication. Ship stations and marine utility stations on board ships are authorized to communicate with any station in the maritime mobile service.
(b) Service requirements for all ship stations. (1) Each ship station must receive and acknowledge all communications which are addressed to the ship or to any person on board.
(2) Every ship, on meeting with any direct danger to the navigation of other ships such as ice, a derelict vessel, a tropical storm, subfreezing air temperatures associated with gale force winds causing severe icing on superstructures, or winds of force 10 or above on the Beaufort scale for which no storm warning has been received, must transmit related information to ships in the vicinity and to the authorities on land unless such action has already been taken by another station. All such radio messages must be preceded by the safety signal.
(3) A ship station may accept communications for retransmission to any other station in the maritime mobile service. Whenever such messages or communications have been received and acknowledged by a ship station for this purpose, that station must retransmit the message as soon as possible.
(c) Service requirements for vessels. Each ship station provided for compliance with Part II of Title III of the Communications Act must provide a public correspondence service on voyages of more than 24 hours for any person who requests the service. Compulsory radiotelephone ships must provide this service for at least four hours daily. The hours must be prominently posted at the principal operating location of the station.
(d) Operating conditions. Effective August 1, 1994, VHF hand-held, portable transmitters used while connected to an external power source or a ship antenna must be equipped with an automatic timing device that deactivates the transmitter and reverts the transmitter to the receive mode after an uninterrupted transmission period of five minutes, plus or minus 10 percent. Additionally, such transmitters must have a device that indicates when the automatic timer has deactivated the transmitter. See also §80.203(c).
[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 56 FR 57988, Nov. 15, 1991; 68 FR 46961, Aug. 7, 2003]
§ 80.142 Ships using radiotelegraphy.
(a) Calling by narrow-band direct-printing. (1) NB-DP ship stations must call United States public coast stations on frequencies designated for NB-DP operation.
(2) Where it is known that the coast station maintains a watch on working frequencies for ship station NB-DP calls the ship station must make its initial NB-DP call on those frequencies.
(3) Calls to a coast station or other ship station must employ the following format: Coast station identification number, repeated twice; “DE”, sent once; and ship station selective call number, repeated twice. When the coast station does not reply to a call sent three times at intervals of two minutes, the calling must cease for fifteen minutes.
(b) NB-DP operating procedure. The operation of NB-DP equipment in the maritime mobile service must be in accordance with the operating procedures contained in the latest version of ITU-R Recommendation M.492–6, “Operational Procedures for the use of Direct-Printing Telegraph Equipment in the Maritime Mobile Service,” with Annex, 1995, that does not prevent the use of existing equipment. ITU-R Recommendation M.492–6 with Annex is incorporated by reference. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part 51. Copies of this standard can be inspected at the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC (Reference Information Center) or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. The ITU-R Recommendation can be purchased from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Place des Nations, CH–1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland.
(c) Required channels for radiotelegraphy. (1) Each ship station using telegraphy on frequencies within the band 405–525 kHz must be capable of:
(i) Transmit on at least two working frequencies and receive on all other frequencies necessary for their service using authorized emissions, and
(ii) When a radiotelegraph installation is compulsory, a fourth frequency within this band which is authorized specifically for direction finding must also be provided.
(2) Each ship station using telegraphy on frequencies within the band 90–160 kHz must be capable of transmitting and receiving Class A1A emission on the frequency 143 kHz, and on at least two additional working frequencies within this band except that portion between 140 kHz and 146 kHz.
(3) Each ship station using telegraphy and operating in the bands between 4000–27500 kHz must be capable of transmitting and receiving Class A1A or J2A emission on at least one frequency authorized for calling and at least two frequencies authorized for working in each of the bands for which facilities are provided to carry on its service.
(4) Each ship station using telegraphy in Region 2 on frequencies within the band 2065–2107 kHz must be capable of transmitting and receiving Class A1A or J2A emission on at least one frequency in this band authorized for working in addition to a frequency in this hand authorized for calling.
[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 54 FR 49993, Dec. 4, 1989; 68 FR 46961, Aug. 7, 2003; 69 FR 64672, Nov. 8, 2004]
§ 80.143 Required frequencies for radiotelephony.
(a) Except for compulsory vessels, each ship radiotelephone station licensed to operate in the band 1605–3500 kHz must be able to receive and transmit J3E emission on the frequency 2182 kHz. Ship stations are additionally authorized to receive and transmit H3E emission for communications with foreign coast stations and with vessels of foreign registry. If the station is used for other than safety communications, it must be capable also of receiving and transmitting the J3E emission on at least two other frequencies in that band. However, ship stations which operate exclusively on the Mississippi River and its connecting waterways, and on high frequency bands above 3500 kHz, need be equipped with 2182 kHz and one other frequency within the band 1605–3500 kHz.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, at least one VHF radiotelephone transmitter/receiver must be able to transmit and receive on the following frequencies:
(1) The distress, safety and calling frequency 156.800 MHz;
(2) The primary intership safety frequency 156.300 MHz;
(3) One or more working frequencies; and
(4) All other frequencies necessary for its service.
(c) Where a ship ordinarily has no requirement for VHF communications, handheld VHF equipment may be used solely to comply with the bridge-to-bridge navigational communication requirements contained in subpart U of this part.
[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 52 FR 35244, Sept. 18, 1987; 68 FR 46961, Aug. 7, 2003]
§ 80.145 [Reserved]
Shipboard General Purpose Watches
§ 80.146 [Reserved]
§ 80.147 Watch on 2182 kHz.
Ship stations must maintain a watch on 2182 kHz as prescribed by §80.304.
[68 FR 46962, Aug. 7, 2003]
§ 80.148 Watch on 156.8 MHz (Channel 16).
Until February 1, 2005, each compulsory vessel, while underway, must maintain a watch for radiotelephone distress calls on 156.800 MHz whenever such station is not being used for exchanging communications. For GMDSS ships, 156.525 MHz is the calling frequency for distress, safety, and general communications using digital selective calling and the watch on 156.800 MHz is provided so that ships not fitted with DSC will be able to call GMDSS ships, thus providing a link between GMDSS and non-GMDSS compliant ships. The watch on 156.800 MHz is not required:
(a) Where a ship station is operating only with handheld bridge-to-bridge VHF radio equipment under §80.143(c) of this part;
(b) For vessels subject to the Bridge-to-Bridge Act and participating in a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) system when the watch is maintained on both the bridge-to-bridge frequency and a separately assigned VTS frequency; or
[51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 58 FR 16504, Mar. 29, 1993; 68 FR 46962, Aug. 7, 2003]
Violations
§ 80.149 Answer to notice of violation.
(a) Any person receiving official notice of violation of the terms of the Communications Act, any legislative act, executive order, treaty to which the United States is a party, terms of a station or operator license, or the rules and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission must within 10 days from such receipt, send a written answer, in duplicate, to the office of the Commission originating the official notice. If an answer cannot be sent or an acknowledgment made within such 10-day period by reason of illness or other unavoidable circumstances, acknowledgment and answer must be made at the earliest practicable date with a satisfactory explanation of the delay. The answer to each notice must be complete in itself and must not be abbreviated by references to other communications or answers to other notices. The answer must contain a full explanation of the incident involved and must set forth the action taken to prevent a continuation or recurrence. If the notice relates to lack of attention to or improper operation of the station or to log or watch discrepancies, the answer must give the name and license number of the licensed operator on duty.
(b) When an official notice of violation, impending violation, or discrepancy, pertaining to any provision of Part II of Title III of the Communications Act or the radio provisions of the Safety Convention, is served upon the master or person responsible for a vessel and any instructions appearing on such document issued by a representative of the Commission are at variance with the content of paragraph (a) of this section, the instructions issued by the Commission's representative supersede those set forth in paragraph (a) of this section.
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