FCC amends maritime rules

FCC amends maritime rules    The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued amendments to its rulemaking affecting maritime communications. Among the changes, the FCC has acceded to a request from the Coast Guard to govern implementing the Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) for vessels, and clarified the responsibility of VHF public coast stations that receive calls on the digital selective calling (DSC) distress frequency.
   The FCC 'generally declined to require additional technical requirements for VPC stations operating on offset channels,' the FCC said in a statement.
   The new rulemaking prohibits ship operation of any device capable of transmitting on a distress frequency without FCC authorization, and re-designates Channels 75 and 76 for communications related to port operations. Smaller passenger ships must now have DSC capability, as well as vessels operating more than 100 miles from shore.
   Some of the changes come into effect on Jan. 7; others later next year. For more information, contact Jeffrey Tobias at the FCC, (202) 418-0680, or e-mail, jeff.tobias@fcc.gov. The full rulemaking may be downloaded from https://www.fcc.gov.