Federal Communications Commission § 80.5

Home , Land station, Maritime mobile service, Ship station, Survival craft station

(a) Part 0. This part describes the ice relating to point-to-point commu- Commission’s organization and delega- nication requirements. tions of authority. Part 0 also lists available Commission publications, [51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 55 FR 20398, May 16, 1990; 59 FR 18499, Apr. 19, standards and procedures for access to 1994; 63 FR 40062, July 27, 1998; 63 FR 68955, Commission records and location on Dec. 14, 1998] Commission monitoring stations. (b) Part 1. This part includes rules of § 80.5 Definitions. practice and procedure for license ap- Alaska—public fixed station. A fixed plications, adjudicatory proceedings, station in Alaska which is open to pub- procedures for reconsideration and re- lic correspondence and is licensed by view of Commission actions; provisions the Commission for radio communica- concerning violation notices and for- tion with Alaska-Private fixed stations feiture proceedings; and the environ- on paired channels. mental processing requirements that, if applicable, must be complied with Alaska—private fixed station. A fixed prior to the initiation of construction. station in Alaska which is licensed by Subpart Q of part 1 contains rules gov- the Commission for radio communica- erning competitive bidding procedures tion within Alaska and with associated for resolving mutually exclusive appli- ship stations, on single frequency chan- cations for certain initial licenses. nels. Alaska-private fixed stations are (c) Part 2. This part contains the also eligible to communicate with Table of Frequency Allocations and Alaska-public fixed stations on paired special requirements in international channels. regulations, recommendations, agree- Associated ship unit. A portable VHF ments, and treaties. This part also con- transmitter for use in the vicinity of tain standards and procedures con- the ship station with which it is associ- cerning marketing of radio frequency ated. devices, and for obtaining equipment Automated maritime telecommunications authorization. system (AMTS). An automatic maritime (d) Part 13. This part contains infor- communications system. mation and rules for the licensing of Automated mutual-assistance vessel res- commercial radio operators. cue system (AMVER). An international (e) Part 17. This part contains re- system, operated by the U.S. Coast quirements for construction, marking Guard, which provides aid to the devel- and lighting of antenna towers. opment and coordination of search and (f) Part 20 of this chapter which gov- rescue (SAR) efforts. Data is made erns commercial mobile radio services available to recognized SAR agencies which include subpart J of this part or vessels of any nation for reasons re- (public coast stations). lated to marine safety. (g) Part 21. This part contains rules Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). concerning point-to-point microwave A maritime navigation safety commu- service authority relating to communications system standardized by the nication common carriers. International Telecommunication (h) Part 64. This part contains mis- Union (ITU) and adopted by the Inter- cellaneous rules relating to commu- national Maritime Organization (IMO) nication common carriers. that provides vessel information, in- (i) Part 68. This part contains tech- cluding the vessel’s identity, type, po- nical standards for connection of ter- sition, course, speed, navigational sta- minal equipment to the telephone net- tus and other safety-related informa- work. tion automatically to appropriately (j) Part 87. This part contains rules equipped shore stations, other ships, for the aviation services. Some mari- and aircraft; receives automatically time frequencies are authorized for use such information from similarly fitted by aircraft stations for safety and dis- ships; monitors and tracks ships; and tress, public correpondence and for exchanges data with shore-based facili- operational communications. ties. (k) Part 101. This part contains rules Bridge-to-bridge station. A radio sta- concerning the private microwave serv- tion located on a ship’s navigational

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bridge or main control station oper- order to comply with the radio or ating on a specified frequency which is radio-navigation provisions of a treaty used only for navigational communica- or statute to which the vessel is sub- tions, in the 156–162 MHz band. ject. Cargo ship safety radio certificate. A (7) Voluntary ship. Any ship which is certificate issued after a ship passes an not required by treaty or statute to be inspection of the required radio- equipped with radiotelecommunication telegraph, radiotelephone or GMDSS equipment. radio installation. Issuance of this cer- Coast station. A land station in the tificate indicates that the vessel com- maritime mobile service. plies with the Communications Act and Commercial communications. Commu- the Safety Convention. nications between coast stations and Cargo ship safety radiotelegraphy cer- ship stations aboard commercial trans- tificate. A certificate issued after a ship port vessels, or between ship stations passes an inspection of a radio- aboard commercial transport vessels, telegraph installation. Issuance of this which relate directly to the purposes certificate indicates that the vessel for which the ship is used including the complies with the Communications Act piloting of vessels, movements of ves- and the Safety Convention. sels, obtaining vessel supplies, and Cargo ship safety radiotelephony cer- scheduling of repairs. tificate. A certificate issued after a ship Day. (1) Where the word day is ap- passes an inspection of a radio- plied to the use of a specific frequency telephone installation. Issuance of this assignment or to a specific authorized certificate indicates that the vessel transmitter power, its use means complies with the Communications Act transmission on the frequency assign- and the Safety Convention. ment or with the authorized trans- Categories of ships. (1) When ref- mitter power during that period of erenced in Part II of Title III of the time included between one hour after Communications Act or the radio pro- local sunrise and one hour before local visions of the Safety Convention, a sunset. ship is a passenger ship if it carries or is (2) Where the word day occurs in ref- licensed or certificated to carry more erence to watch requirements, or to than twelve passengers. A cargo ship is equipment testing, its use means the any ship not a passenger ship. calendar day, from midnight to mid- (2) A commercial transport vessel is any night, local time. ship which is used primarily in com- Digital selective calling (DSC). A syn- merce (i) for transporting persons or chronous system developed by the goods to or from any harbor(s) or International Telecommunication port(s) or between places within a har- Union Radiocommunication (ITU–R) bor or port area, or (ii) in connection Sector, used to establish contact with with the construction, change in con- a station or group of stations auto- struction, servicing, maintenance, re- matically by means of radio. The oper- pair, loading, unloading, movement, pi- ational and technical characteristics of loting, or salvaging of any other ship this system are contained in Rec- or vessel. ommendations ITU–R M.493–11, ‘‘Dig- (3) The term passenger carrying vessel, ital Selective-calling System for Use in when used in reference to Part III, the Maritime Mobile Service,’’ with Title III of the Communications Act of Annexes 1 and 2, 2004, and ITU–R M.541– the Great Lakes Radio Agreement, 9, ‘‘Operational Procedures for the Use means any ship transporting more than of Digital Selective-Calling Equipment six passengers for hire. in the Maritime Mobile Service,’’ with (4) Power-driven vessel. Any ship pro- Annexes 1 through 5, 2004. (see subpart pelled by machinery. W of this part.) ITU–R Recommenda- (5) Towing vessel. Any commercial tions M.493–11 with Annexes 1 and 2 and ship engaged in towing another ship M.541–9 with Annexes 1 through 5 are astern, alongside or by pushing ahead. incorporated by reference. The Direc- (6) Compulsory ship. Any ship which is tor of the Federal Register approves required to be equipped with this incorporation by reference in ac- radiotelecommunication equipment in cordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR

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part 51. Copies of these standards can Distress traffic. Distress traffic con- be inspected at the Federal Commu- sists of all messages relating to the im- nications Commission, 445 12th Street, mediate assistance required by a per- SW., Washington, DC (Reference Infor- son, ship, aircraft, or other vehicle in mation Center) or at the National Ar- distress, including search and rescue chives and Records Administration communications and on-scene commu- (NARA). For information on the avail- nications. ability of this material at NARA, call Emergency position indicating radio- 202–741–6030, or go to: http:// beacon (EPIRB) station. A station in the www.archives.gov/federallregister/ maritime mobile service the emissions codeloflfederallregulations/ of which are intended to facilitate ibrllocations.html. The ITU–R Rec- search and rescue operations. ommendations can be purchased from Environmental communications. Broad- the International Telecommunication casts of information about the environ- Union (ITU), Place des Nations, CH– mental conditions in which vessels op- 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland. erate, i.e., weather, sea conditions, Direction finder (radio compass). Appa- time signals adequate for practical ratus capable of receiving radio signals navigation, notices to mariners, and and taking bearings on these signals hazards to navigation. from which the true bearing and direc- Fleet radio station license. An author- tion of the point of origin may be de- ization issued by the Commission for termined. two or more ships having a common The distress signal is a Distress signal. owner or operator. digital selective call using an inter- Global maritime distress and safety sys- nationally recognized distress call for- tem (GMDSS). An International Mari- mat in the bands used for terrestrial communication or an internationally time Organization (IMO) worldwide co- recognized distress message format, in ordinated maritime distress system de- which case it is relayed through space signed to provide the rapid transfer of stations, which indicates that a person, distress messages from vessels in dis- ship, aircraft, or other vehicle is tress to units best suited for giving or threatened by grave and imminent dan- coordinating assistance. The system ger and requests immediate assistance. includes standardized equipment and (1) In radiotelephony, the inter- operational procedures, unique national distress signal consists of the identifers for each station, and the in- enunciation of the word ‘‘Mayday’’, tegrated use of frequency bands and pronounced as the French expression radio systems to ensure the trans- ‘‘m’aider’’. In case of distress, transmission and reception of distress and mission of this particular signal is in- safety calls and messages at short, me- tended to ensure recognition of a radio- dium and long ranges. telephone distress call by stations of Great Lakes. This term, used in this any nationality. part in reference to the Great Lakes (2) For GMDSS, distress alerts result Radio Agreement, means all of Lakes in an audible alarm and visual indica- Ontario, Erie, Huron (including Geor- tion that a ship or person is threatened gian Bay), Michigan, Superior, their by grave and imminent danger and re- connecting and tributary waters and quests immediate assistance. These the St. Lawrence River as far east as automatic systems contain sufficient the lower exit of the St. Lambert Lock information in the distress alert mes- as Montreal in the Province of Quebec, sage to identify the vessel, prepare to Canada, but does not include any con- assist and begin a search. However, ex- necting and tributary waters other cept when transmitted via satellite than: the St. Marys River, the St. Clair EPIRB, the distress alert is just the River, Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River initial call for help. Communication and the Welland Canal. between the vessel or person in distress Harbor or port. Any place to which and the Rescue Coordination Center ships may resort for shelter, or to load (RCC) or ship assisting should always or unload passengers or goods, or to ob- follow. tain fuel, water, or supplies. This term

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applies to such places whether pro- stations, ship earth stations, coast sta- claimed public or not and whether nat- tions, coast earth stations and groups ural or artifical. of stations. Inland waters. This term, as used in Maritime radiodetermination service. A reference to waters of the United maritime radiocommunication service States, its territories and possessions, for determining the position, velocity, means waters that lie landward of the and/or other characteristics of an ob- boundary lines of inland waters as con- ject, or the obtaining of information tained in 33 CFR 80.01, as well as waters relating to these parameters, by the within its land territory, such as rivers propagation properties of radio waves. and lakes, over which the United Maritime support station. A station on States exercises sovereignty. land used in support of the maritime INMARSAT. INMARSAT Ltd. is a pri- services to train personnel and to dem- vate commercial company licensed in onstrate, test and maintain equipment. the United Kingdom. Navigable waters. This term, as used Marine utility station. A station in the in reference to waters of the United maritime mobile service consisting of States, its territories and possessions, one or more handheld radiotelephone means the waters shoreward of the units licensed under a single authoriza- baseline of its territorial sea and inter- tion. Each unit is capable of operation nal waters as contained in 33 CFR 2.05– while being hand-carried by an indi- 25. vidual. The station operates under the Navigational communications. Safety rules applicable to ship stations when the unit is aboard a vessel, and under communications pertaining to the ma- the rules applicable to private coast neuvering of vessels or the directing of stations when the unit is on land. vessel movements. Such communications are primarily for the exchange of Maritime control communications. Com- munications between private coast and information between ship stations and ship stations or between ship stations secondarily between ship stations and licensed to a state or local govern- coast stations. mental entity, which relate directly to Noncommercial communications. Com- the control of boating activities or as- munication between coast stations and sistance to ships. ship stations other than commercial Maritime mobile repeater station. A transport ships, or between ship sta- land station at a fixed location estab- tions aboard other than commercial lished for the automatic retrans- transport ships which pertain to the mission of signals to extend the range needs of the ship. of communication of ship and coast Non-selectable transponder. A trans- stations. ponder whose coded response is dis- Maritime mobile-satellite service. A mo- played on any conventional radar oper- bile-satellite service in which mobile ating in the appropriate band. earth stations are located on board On-board communication station. A ships. Survival craft stations and low-powered mobile station in the mar- EPIRB stations may also participate in itime mobile service intended for use this service. for internal communications on board Maritime mobile service. A mobile serv- a ship, or between a ship and its life- ice between coast stations and ship sta- boats and liferafts during lifeboat tions, or between ship stations, or be- drills or operations, or for communica- tween associated on-board communication within a group of vessels being tion stations. Survival craft stations towed or pushed, as well as for line and EPIRB stations also participate in handling and mooring instructions. this service. On-board repeater. A radio station Maritime mobile service identities that receives and automatically re- (MMSI). An international system for transmits signals between on-board the identification of radio stations in communication stations. the maritime mobile service. The sys- Open sea. The water area of the open tem is comprised of a series of nine dig- coast seaward of the ordinary low- its which are transmitted over the water mark, or seaward of inland wa- radio path to uniquely identify ship ters.

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Operational fixed station. A fixed sta- munication preceded by one of these tion, not open to public correspond- signals, or any form of radio- ence, operated by entities that provide communication which, if delayed in their own radiocommunication facili- transmission or reception, may ad- ties in the private land mobile, mari- versely affect the safety of life or prop- time or aviation services. erty. Passenger ship safety certificate. A cer- Safety signal. (1) The safety signal is tificate issued by the Commandant of the international radiotelegraph or ra- the Coast Guard after inspection of a diotelephone signal which indicates passenger ship which complies with the that the station sending this signal is requirements of the Safety Convention. preparing to transmit a message con- Pilot. Pilot means a Federal pilot re- cerning the safety of navigation or giv- quired by 46 U.S.C. 764, a state pilot re- ing important meteorological warn- quired under the authority of 46 U.S.C. ings. 211, or a registered pilot required by 46 (2) In radiotelegraphy, the inter- U.S.C. 216. national safety signals consists of Port operations communications. Com- munications in or near a port, in locks three repetitions of the group ‘‘TTT,’’ or in waterways between coast stations sent before the call, with the letters of and ship stations or between ship sta- each group and the successive groups tions, which relate to the operational clearly separated from each other. handling, movement and safety of ships (3) In radiotelephony, the inter- and in emergency to the safety of per- national safety signal consists of three sons. oral repetitions of ‘‘Security,’’ pro- Portable ship station. A ship station nounced as the French word which includes a single transmitter in- ‘‘Securite,’’ sent before the call. tended for use upon two or more ships. (4) For GMDSS, safety calls result in Private coast station. A coast station, an audible alarm and visual indication not open to public correspondence, that the station sending this signal has which serves the operational, maritime a very urgent message to transmit con- control and business needs of ships. cerning the safety of navigation or giv- Public coast station. A coast station ing important meteorological warn- that offers radio communication com- ings. mon carrier services to ship radio sta- Selectable tfransponder. A transponder tions. whose coded response may be inhibited Public correspondence. Any tele- or displayed on a radar on demand by communication which the offices and the operator of that radar. stations must, by reason of their being Selective calling. A means of calling in at the disposal of the public, accept for which signals are transmitted in ac- transmission. cordance with a prearranged code to Radar beacon (RACON). A receiver- operate a particular automatic atten- transmitter which, when triggered by a tion device at the station whose atten- radar, automatically returns a distinc- tion is sought. tive signal which can appear on the dis- Ship earth station. A mobile earth sta- play of the triggering radar, providing tion in the maritime mobile-satellite range, bearing and identification infor- service located on board ship. mation. Radioprinter operations. Communica- Ship or vessel. Ship or vessel includes tions by means of a direct printing every description of watercraft or radiotelegraphy system using any al- other artificial contrivance, except air- phanumeric code, within specified craft, capable of being used as a means bandwidth limitations, which is au- of transportation on water whether or thorized for use between private coast not it is actually afloat. stations and their associated ship sta- Ship radio station license. An author- tions on vessels of less than 1600 gross ization issued by the Commission to tons. operate a radio station onboard a ves- Safety communication. The trans- sel. mission or reception of distress, alarm, Ship station. A mobile station in the urgency, or safety signals, or any com- maritime mobile service located on-

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board a vessel which is not perma- Subpart B—Applications and nently moored, other than a survival Licenses craft station. Station. One or more transmitters or § 80.11 Scope. a combination of transmitters and re- This subpart contains the procedures ceivers, including the accessory equip- and requirements for the filing of ap- ment, necessary at one location for carrying on radiocommunication serv- plications for licenses to operate radio ices. facilities in the maritime services. part Survival craft station. A mobile sta- 1 of the Commission’s rules contains tion in the maritime or aeronautical the general rules of practice and proce- mobile service intended solely for sur- dure applicable to proceedings before vival purposes and located on any life- the FCC. boat, liferaft or other survival equip- § 80.13 Station license required. ment. Underway. A vessel is underway when (a) Except as noted in paragraph (c) it is not at anchor, made fast to the of this section, stations in the mari- shore, or aground. time service must be licensed by the Urgency signal. (1) The urgency signal FCC either individually or by fleet. is the international radiotelegraph or (b) One ship station license will be radiotelephone signal which indicates granted for operation of all maritime that the calling station has a very ur- services transmitting equipment on gent message to transmit concerning board a vessel. Radiotelegraph and nar- the safety of a ship, aircraft, or other row-band directing-printing equipment vehicle, or of some person on board or will not be authorized, however, unless within sight. specifically requested by the applicant. (2) In radiotelegraphy, the inter- (c) A ship station is licensed by rule national urgency signal consists of and does not need an individual license three repetitions of the group ‘‘XXX,’’ issued by the FCC if the ship station is sent before the call, with the letters of not subject to the radio equipment car- each group and the successive groups riage requirements of any statute, clearly separated from each other. treaty or agreement to which the (3) In radiotelephony, the inter- United States is signatory, the ship national urgency signal consists of station does not travel to foreign ports, three oral repetitions of the group of and the ship station does not make words ‘‘PAN PAN’’, each word of the international communications. A ship group pronounced as the French word station licensed by rule is authorized ‘‘PANNE’’ and sent before the call. to transmit radio signals using a ma- (4) For GMDSS, urgency calls result rine radio operating in the 156–162 MHz in an audible alarm and visual indica- band, any type of AIS, any type of tion that the station sending this sig- EPIRB, and any type of radar installa- nal has a very urgent message to trans- tion. All other transmissions must be mit concerning the safety of a ship, authorized under a ship station license. aircraft, or other vehicle, or of some Even though an individual license is person on board or within sight. not required, a ship station licensed by Vessel traffic service (VTS). A U.S. rule must be operated in accordance Coast Guard traffic control service for with all applicable operating require- ships in designated water areas to pre- ments, procedures, and technical speci- vent collisions, groundings and envi- fications found in this part. ronmental harm. Watch. The act of listening on a des- [61 FR 58010, Nov. 12, 1996, as amended at 62 ignated frequency. FR 40304, July 28, 1997; 71 FR 60074, Oct. 12, 2006] [51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at 52 FR 7417, Mar. 11, 1987; 52 FR 35244, Sept. 18, § 80.15 Eligibility for station license. 1987; 56 FR 3783, Jan. 31, 1991; 57 FR 26778, (a) General. A station license cannot June 16, 1992; 58 FR 16504, Mar. 29, 1993; 60 FR 35510, July 10, 1995; 63 FR 29658, June 1, 1998; be granted to or held by a foreign gov- 68 FR 46959, Aug. 7, 2003; 71 FR 60074, Oct. 12, ernment or its representative. 2006; 72 FR 31194, June 6, 2007; 73 FR 4480, (b) Public coast stations and Alaska- Jan. 25, 2008] public fixed stations. A station license

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