Title: FCC
1Chapter 5
- FCC
- (Federal Communications Commission)
- Rules and Regulations
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2Overview
- Communications Act of 1934
- FCC Rules (CFR Title 47, Part 80)
- Maritime Radio Licenses
- Frequency Plan
- Summary
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3Communications Act of 34
- Keel of Maritime Radio Rules
- CFR Title 47, Part 80
- Stations in the Maritime Services
- Last revised 1 Oct 2002
- In revision right now
- Purpose
- Safety of Life at Sea
- Effective use of maritime bands
- Know and comply with Rules and Regulations
- Reduce interference
- To emergency/distress communications
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4CFR Title 47, Part 80
Code of Federal Regulations Title 47, Volume
5 TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION
PART 80--STATIONS IN THE MARITIME
SERVICES 80.1 General This section contains
the statutory basis for this part of the rules
and provides the purpose for which this part is
issued. (a) Basis. The rules for the maritime
services (b) Purpose. This part states
the conditions under which radio may be licensed
and used in the maritime services. These rules do
not govern radio stations operated by agencies of
the U.S. Government.
Available online
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5FCC Rules
- Categories of Ships
- Authorized Users
- Monitoring Requirement
- Priority of Communications
- Security of Communications
- Violations
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6Categories of Ships
- Compulsory
- Licensed to carry more than 6 passengers
- Cargo and passenger ships
- Must have radios and navigational equipment
- Voluntary
- Recreational vessels under 65 feet
- If 65 feet or over, vessel must carry a radio and
have a Ship Station License
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7Authorized Uses
- Primary safety
- Secondary needs of the vessel
- Prohibited Uses
- Profane, obscene or indecent language
- False distress signals
- Social conversations
- General calls
- Not addressed to specific station
- Except distress, alarm, urgency, safety signals
or test
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8Monitoring Requirements
- If you have VHF-FM DSC radio
- Must monitor DSC channel 70 (done automatically)
- Should also monitor channel 16
- Unless communicating on working channel
- USPS pledge to render assistance, whenever
possible to anyone afloat who is disabled or in
distress - If you do NOT have a VHF-FM DSC radio
- Must monitor channel 16
- Unless communicating on working channel
- Scanning radios monitor several channels
- Suggest 09, 13, 16 and working
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9Priority of Communications
- Distress (MAYDAY)
- Urgency (PAN PAN) Pahn-pahn
- Safety (SECURITY) Saycure-it-tay
- Navigation, movements and needs of ship
- Government
- All Other (non-emergency)
- Most communications from recreational craft
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10Prevention of Interference
- Determine that frequency is not in use
before making a call - If you may cause interference to a call in
progress, cease transmitting - Priority of communications prevents interference
to most important calls
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11Station Identification
- At the beginning and end of each communication
- Not during transmission
- Details will be provided in chapter 6
- At 15 minute intervals
- In English
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12Security of Communications
- Communications Act of 1934 protects privacy of
radio communications - A radio operator may NOT divulge
- Content of message
- Existence of message
- A radio listener may NOT divulge
- Content of message
- Existence of message
- Knowledge gained
- Cannot be used for any purpose
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13Violations
- Violations can be charged against
- Radio operator
- and/or licensee
- and/or owner/captain
- Notifications to Violators
- Warning (requires no reply)
- Official Notice (requires answer within 10 days)
- Notice of Apparent Liability
- Fine
- Answered per instructions in notice
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14Serious Violations
- Transmitting false MAYDAYs
- Interfering with distress signals
- Willfully interfering with another station
- Using obscene, profane or indecent language
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15Common Violations 1
- Transmitting
- Without required license
- Ship Station or Operators License
- With unauthorized call sign
- With non-type accepted equipment
or with too much power - On an unauthorized frequency
- Interfering
- With distress or other priority signals
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16Common Violations - 2
- Failure to
- Obey a cease and desist order
- Reply to a violation notice from FCC
- Maintain Radio Silence when required
- Performing or allow unauthorized adjustments on
transmitter
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17Penalties
- Violations can be charges against
- Radio operator
- and/or licensee
- and/or owner/captain
- Penalties
- License revocation
- Equipment forfeiture
- Fines (up to 10,000)
- Imprisonment (up to 2 years)
- Civil Liabilities
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18Maritime Radio Licenses
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19Ship Station License
- Required for
- MF/HF SSB radios
- Satellite radios
- INMARSAT
- Mini C
- Mini M
- MMSI issued
- VHF-FM radios
- MF/HF SSB radios
- INMARSAT terminals
- EPIRB must be registered with NOAA
- Owner must update both the MMSI and NOAA databases
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20Ship Station License
- NOT required for
- VHF-FM radios (voluntary)
- Satellite phones
- Globalsat
- Iridium
- IsatPhone
- Sky Mate
- VHF satellite system
- EPIRB
- Radar
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21Ship Station License
Required for MF/HF SSB Radio and INMARSAT
terminals
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22How to Obtain Station License
- Need FCC Registration Number (FRN)
- Electronically at http//wireless.fcc.gov/uls
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23How to Obtain - 2
- Complete FCC form 605
- Electronically at http//wireless.fcc.gov/uls
0.44 hours to complete 2 page form
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24How to Obtain - 3
Complete Schedule E of FCC form
605 Electronically at http//wireless.fcc.gov/uls
The date of birth will not be made available for
public inspection.
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25How to Obtain - 4
- Pay processing fee of 160
- Electronically at http//wireless.fcc.gov/uls
FCC form 159
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26Details on Ship License
- Eligibility
- Individuals or Corporations
- Not to Foreign Governments
- or their representatives
- Call Sign
- Name of Vessel
- or FCC issued Call Sign
- Posting of License
- Not Required
- Must be readily available
- Renewable, 10-year license
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27Operator Licenses
- VHF-FM Required
- Minimum of RR, if not in
- US waters
- International waters
- Minimum of MP
- If 65 feet or larger
- Commercial
- MF/HF SSB Required
- Minimum of RR
- Regardless of length
- In any waters
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28Operator Licenses
- Not Required for
- VHF-FM Recreational
- Under 65 feet
- In US waters
- In International waters
- In case of emergency
- Anyone may transmit a Mayday
- License is NOT required
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29Types of Licenses - RR
- Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit
- Meets all recreational boater needs
- No exam, lifetime license
- Application and fee
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30How to Obtain RR License
- By application, no exam
- Need FCC Registration Number (FRN)
- Electronically at http//wireless.fcc.gov/uls
- Complete FCC from 605 and its schedule E
- Electronically at http//wireless.fcc.gov/uls
- Pay processing fee of 60
- With FCC form 159
- Electronically at http//wireless.fcc.gov/uls
- Can use credit card
- Lifetime license (no expiration date)
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31Advanced Licenses
- Details on Marine Radio Operators Permit or MP
are covered in Appendix B - Required if vessel is 65 feet or larger
- If carrying more than 6 passengers for hire
- Non-technical license
- Details on General Radiotelephone Operators
License also in Appendix B - Combination Operators Maintainer License
- Written technical (electronics) exam
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32Marine Radio Frequency Plan
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33Overview
- Maritime Radio Bands
- Sea Areas
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34Maritime Radio Bands
- Marine Radiotelephone Bands
- 2 to 3 MHz Medium Frequency SSB (AM)
- 4 to 27.5 MHz High Frequency SSB (AM)
- 156 to 162 MHz Very High Frequency FM
- Bands by Sea Area
- Sea Area A1 use VHF-FM (20 mile range)
- Sea Area A2 use MF-SSB (100 mile range)
- Sea Area A3 use INMARSAT or HF-SSB
- Sea Area A4 use HF-SSB
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35Sea Areas
- A1 - Shore out to 20 nm
- A2 - From 20 out to 100 nm from shore
- A3 - Over 100 nm from shore 70º N to 70º S
- A4 - Polar regions beyond 70º
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36Marine Frequencies Channels
- Details on Marine Radio Frequencies are found in
Appendix A - Details on NOAA Weather Channels are also found
in Appendix A
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37Summary
- Marine radios are for safety needs of vessel
- Prohibited false distress, social all
stations - Priorities Mayday, Urgency (Pan-Pan), Safety
(Security), Navigation, Government, then other - NO license for domestic VHF
- RR for foreign VHF and/or all MF/HF
- Must monitor either Channel 16 or 70 (DSC)
- Unless using a working channel
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38Summary - 2
- Three bands for Marine Radio
- VHF-FM (156 to 162 MHz) Primary
- Radio Line-of-Sight
- MF (2 to 3 MHz) when VHF will not reach
- HF (4 to 27 MHz) when MF will not reach
- Suggest scanning 09, 13, 16 and working
- DSC always monitoring 70
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