[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 102 (Friday, May 24, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26120-26121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13100]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 80
[WT Docket No. 94-153; FCC 96-202]
Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Commission has added Prince William Sound to the United
States Coast Guard (Coast Guard) designated radio protection areas for
mandatory VTS and establish marine VHF Channel 11 as the VTS frequency
for Prince William Sound. This action is in response to a request from
the Coast Guard. The designation of Prince William Sound as a VTS area
will allow the Coast Guard to manage vessel traffic in a more efficient
manner.
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 24, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Shaffer, (202) 418-0680, Private
Radio Bureau.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Report
and Order, FCC 96-202, adopted May 2, 1996, and released May 9, 1996.
The full text of this Report and Order is available for inspection and
copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Room
239, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. The complete text may be
purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International
Transcription Service, Inc., 2100 M Street, Suite 140, Washington, D.C.
20037, telephone (202) 857-3800.
Summary of Report and Order
1. The Coast Guard filed a petition (RM-8199), Public Notice No.
1932, requesting that the Commission amend Part 80 of the Rules, 47 CFR
Part 80, to add Prince William Sound to the Coast Guard designated
radio protection areas for mandatory VTS and establish marine VHF
Channel 11 (156.550 MHz) as the VTS frequency for Prince William Sound.
2. As a result of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Public Law 101-
380, 104 Stat. 484, the Coast Guard plans to implement a mandatory
Automated Dependent Surveillance (ADS) system for cargo ships, e.g. oil
tankers, that operate in Prince William Sound. The ADS will operate as
part of the proposed VTS system and is scheduled to begin operation in
July 1994. An ADS system works as follows: the vessel determines its
position using a highly accurate differential GPS receiver and
automatically transmits its position, identification and the time of
the position to the Coast Guard using digital selective calling (DSC)
techniques on VHF marine Channel 70 (156.525 MHz). The Coast Guard
needs Channel 11 to supplement Channel 70 ADS use and for voice VTS
communications in support of vessel traffic control operations.
3. Designating Prince William Sound as a VTS area will allow the
Coast Guard to manage vessel traffic in that area more efficiently and
protect the marine environment by preventing vessel collisions and
groundings. Therefore, we are adding Prince William Sound to the
Commission's list of designated radio protection areas for VTS systems
specified in Section 80.383. The radio protection area will be defined
as ``The rectangle between North latitudes 61 degrees 17 minutes and 59
degrees 22 minutes and West longitudes 149 degrees 39 minutes and 145
degrees 36 minutes.''
4. Additionally, we will permit private coast stations currently
authorized to operate on Channel 11 within the Prince William Sound VTS
area to continue operation until the end of their current license terms
on a noninterference basis. The staff will help affected licensees find
suitable alternative channels. No fee will be charged for affected
stations that apply for modification for an alternative channel before
their next renewals.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 80
Communications equipment, Marine safety.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
Rules Changes
Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 80, is amended as
follows:
PART 80--STATIONS IN THE MARITIME SERVICES
1. The authority citation for Part 80 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Secs. 4, 303, 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47
U.S.C. 154, 303, unless otherwise noted. Interpret or apply 48 Stat.
1064-1068, 1081-1105, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 151-155, 301-609; 3 UST
3450, 3 UST 4726, 12 UST 2377.
2. Section 80.383 is amended by revising the entry for 156.550 MHz
in the table in paragraph (a), removing the final word ``and'' in
paragraph (b)(4), removing the final ``.'' and adding in its place ``;
and'' in paragraph (b)(5), and adding a new paragraph (b)(6) to read as
follows:
Sec. 80.383 Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) system frequencies.
* * * * *
(a) * * *
Vessel Traffic Control Frequencies
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Carrier frequencies (MHz) Geographic areas
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* * * * *
156.550................................... New York, New Orleans,\1\
Houston, Prince William
Sound.\3\
* * * * *
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[[Page 26121]]
\1\ Until further notice, this frequency is available for use as
permitted by Sec. 80.373(f), notwithstanding the provisions of
footnote 3, that are applicable to the VTS system. Availability is a
result of the closure of the VTS system for the port area of New
Orleans. If the United States Coast Guard re-establishes this
system, the Commission may require operations pursuant to such
conditional licenses for this frequency to cease, or may choose not
to renew such conditional licenses. All licenses for this frequency
will be expressly conditioned upon the continued availability of the
frequency for non-VTS use.
* * * * *
\3\ Private coast station licenses for the use of this frequency
in this area will expire at the end of the current license term or
five years after the adopted date of the final rule, whichever comes
first. Continued use until expiration must be on a noninterference
basis to Coast Guard VTS communications.
(b) * * *
(6) Prince William Sound. The rectangle between North latitudes 61
degrees 17 minutes and 59 degrees 22 minutes and West longitudes 149
degrees 39 minutes and 145 degrees 36 minutes.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 96-13100 Filed 5-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P