# DA 00-320

# 

# Released: February 18, 2000

**WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON**

**WJG MARITEL CORPORATION REQUEST FOR TEMPORARY SUSPENSION**

**OF EQUIPMENT CERTIFICATION FOR DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING RADIOS**

**WITH EXTERNAL CONTROLS FOR 12.5 KHZ OFFSET CHANNELS**

**Comment Date: March 20, 2000 Reply Date: April 4, 2000**

On December 8, 1999, WJG MariTEL Corporation (MariTEL) requested that
the Commission temporarily suspend the certification of ship station VHF
transmitters capable of employing external frequency controls to select
12.5 kHz offset channels. In 1998, the Commission amended its rules to
permit VHF (156-162 MHz) public coast stations to operate on 12.5 kHz
offset frequencies where the station is authorized to operate on both 25
kHz frequencies adjacent to the offset frequency. *See* Section
80.371(c)(1)(iii) of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. §
80.371(c)(1)(iii). MariTEL, the licensee for VHF public coast (VPC)
licensing areas 1-9, is currently constructing a digital, fully
automated, nationwide marine communications system. When this system is
fully operational, MariTEL plans to monitor the 25 kHz channels for
incoming communications, but not the 12.5 kHz offset channels.

MariTEL argues that the VPC licensee should determine when ship station
licensees have access to 12.5 kHz offset channels. It contends that
allowing ship station licensees to select 12.5 kHz offset channels will
cause interference to both the users of the adjacent 25 kHz channels and
the United States Coast Guard's Ports and Waterways Safety System, which
operates on the 12.5 kHz offset channels. *See* Section 80.371(c)(3) of
the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 80.371(c)(3). MariTEL contends that
adoption of its request will cause no harm to existing VPC licensees or
VHF ship stations. It states that no other licensee currently serves the
12.5 kHz offset channels, and that very few of today's VHF ship station
radios are equipped to operate on 12.5 kHz offset channels. MariTEL,
nevertheless, is concerned that circumstances may change and
manufacturers will start obtaining certification for transmitters with
external controls for 12.5 kHz offset channels. To avoid such an
occurrence, and to permit the Commission to evaluate the need for
modification of Section 80.203(b) of its Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 80.203(b),
it seeks the adoption of the subject request.

Interested parties may file comments on the subject request on or before
March 20, 2000. Parties interested in submitting reply comments must do
so on or before April 4, 2000. All comments should reference the subject
request, including the DA number of the Public Notice, and should be
filed with the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission, 445 Twelfth Street, S.W., Room TW-325, Washington, D.C.
20554. A copy of each filing should be sent to International
Transcription Services, Inc. (ITS), 1231 20^th^ Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 857-3800, and Keith Fickner, Federal
Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Public
Safety and Private Wireless Division, 445 12^th^ Street, S.W., Room
4-B553, Washington, D.C. 20554, (202) 418-7308 or via e-mail to
<kfickner@fcc.gov>.

The full text of the request, comments and reply comments will be
available for inspection and duplication during regular business hours
in the Reference Information Center (RIC) of the Consumer Information
Bureau (CIB), Federal Communications Commission, 445 12^th^ Street,
S.W., Room CY-A257, Washington, D.C. 20554. Copies may also be obtained
from ITS. For further information regarding the public reference file
for this request, contact Maria Ringold, Chief, Wireless Branch, RIC,
(202) 418-1350.

Because of the policy implications and potential impact of this
proceeding on persons not parties to this request, we believe it would
be in the public interest to treat this case as a permit-but-disclose
proceeding under the *ex parte* rules, *see* Sections 1.1200(a) and
1.1206 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.1200(a), 1.1206, rather
than a restricted proceeding under Section 1.1208 of the Commission's
Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.1208. Therefore, any *ex parte* presentations that
are made with respect to the issues involved in the subject request,
subsequent to the release of this Public Notice, will be permissible but
must be disclosed in accordance with the requirements of Section
1.1206(b) of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b).

For further information, contact Keith Fickner of the Public Safety and
Private Wireless Division of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at
(202) 418-7308, TTY (202) 418-7233, or via e-mail to <kfickner@fcc.gov>.

By the Chief, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau.

\- FCC -