Mr. John Giusti

Chief of the International Bureau

Federal Communications Commission

445 12^th^ Street SW

Washington, D.C. 20554

Dear Mr. Giusti:

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA),
on behalf of the Executive Branch agencies, has approved the release of
an additional draft Executive Branch proposal for WRC-07. This proposal
considers the federal agency inputs toward the development of U.S.
Proposals for WRC-07.

The enclosed document contains a draft proposal, which addresses Agenda
Item 7.2 and proposes to add an additional Agenda Item (2.XF) "Enhanced
Maritime Ship and Port Security" to the WRC-10 agenda. This proposal is
forwarded for your consideration and review by your WRC-07 Advisory
Committee. Jim Vorhies of my staff is the primary contact for NTIA.

Sincerely,

> *(Original Signed September 20, 2006)*

Fredrick R. Wentland

> Associate Administrator
>
> Office of Spectrum Management

Enclosure

**United States of America**

**DRAFT PROPOSAL FOR THE WORK OF THE CONFERENCE**

**Agenda Item 7.2:** to recommend to the Council items for inclusion in
the agenda of the next WRC, and to give its views on the preliminary
agenda for the subsequent conference and on possible agenda items for
future conferences, taking into account Resolution **802 (WRC-03)**;

*Enhanced Maritime Ship and Port Security*

**Background Information:** There is a growing global requirement for
application of wireless technology to enhanced security of ships and
ports. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) recognized this
need by its adoption of the Code on International Ship and Port Facility
Security (ISPS), implemented as treaty by amendment to the Safety of
Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, with the understanding "that the
establishment of such measures will further enhance and positively
contribute towards the international efforts to ensure maritime security
and to prevent and suppress acts threatening the security in the
maritime transport sector", and invited contracting governments "to
establish, as they may consider necessary, and to disseminate, as they
deem fit, appropriate measures to enhance the security of ships and of
port facilities"[^1]. The IMO Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and
Search and Rescue[^2] (COMSAR) has actively supported terrestrial and
satellite communication and data exchange systems to enhance maritime
safety and port security. IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 81)
approved new provisions in Chapter V (Safety of Navigation) of SOLAS for
Long Range Identification and Tracking following the adoption of the
ISPS Code which also introduced a requirement for a Ship Security Alert
System (SSAS). COMSAR 10 noted that integration of satellite and
terrestrial technologies enhance vessel and personal safety. As a
result, additional channels may be required for Automatic Identification
(AIS) purposes which, with the existing AIS channels, may require
protection and also authorization to operate in the mobile satellite
service.

There is a need for improved identification, tracking, and surveillance
of international shipping and its cargo. Some administrations as well as
the International Standards Organization (ISO) are studying the spectrum
and standardization requirements for electronic seals used on freight
containers to provide a more secure international transportation system.
[^3]

IMO has also addressed measures to enhance maritime security and has
drafted performance standards and functional requirements and adopted
SOLAS Convention carriage requirements for the Long-Range Identification
and Tracking of Ships (LRIT) and the Ship Security Alerting System
(SSAS), noting that the integration of satellite and terrestrial
technologies enhance vessel and personal safety. The implementation of
communication systems in the VHF/UHF, MF/HF, and Satellite spectrum will
enable the LRIT and SSAS functions. Changes to the Radio Regulations,
and in particular the spectrum allocation table, are expected to be
necessary in order to ensure enhanced safety and security of ships and
ports.

**Proposal:**

**USA/ /1 MOD**

**RESOLUTION 803 (WRC-~~03~~[07]{.underline})**

**~~Preliminary~~ Agenda for the 2010 World Radiocommunication
Conference**

The World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva,
200~~3~~[7]{.underline}),

**USA/ /2 ADD**

**2.XF** to consider spectrum requirements and possible additional
spectrum allocations to support enhanced ship and port security in
accordance with Resolution **Enhanced Port and Ship Security**
**(WRC-07)**.

**Reasons:** Meet international maritime shipping need for ship and
cargo identification, tracking, and surveillance, and ship and port
facility security.

**USA/ /3 ADD**

**RESOLUTION \[Enhanced Port and Port Security\] (WRC-07)**

**Consideration of spectrum allocations for use by maritime ship and
port security systems**

The World Rdiocommunication Conference (Geneva, 2007),

*considering*

*a)* that there is increasing need, on a global basis, to enhance ship
and cargo identification, tracking, and surveillance as well as ship and
port security;

*b)* that IMO adoption of the International Ship and Port Facility
Security (ISPS) Code, specifically Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
Convention Chapter XI-2 on special measures to enhance maritime security
requires long range spectrum dependent systems;

*c)* that the introduction of the shipborne universal Automatic
Identification System (AIS) (ITU-R Rec. M.1371 series) offers potential
enhancements to ship safety and port security;

*d)* that studies within ITU-R WP 8B indicate that additional AIS
channels in the mobile satellite service may be required to enhance
global ship tracking capabilities;

*e)* that advanced maritime HF data systems may be used to deliver
security alerts and safety information to global regions not under
satellite coverage,

noting

*a)* that Resolution **342 (Rev. WRC-2000)** has considered new
technologies to provide improved efficiency in the use of the bands in
**Appendix 18** by stations in the maritime mobile service;

*b)* that Resolution **351 (WRC-03)** has reviewed the frequencies and
channelling arrangements in the MF and HF bands, of **Appendix 17**,
with a view to improving efficiency by considering the use of new
digital technology,

recognizing

*a)* that there is a global requirement to enhance ship and port
security via spectrum dependent systems;

*b)* that existing and future technologies for Ship Security and
Alerting Systems (SSAS) will require long range communications links and
networks between mobile ships and shorebased stations;

*c)* that due to the importance of these radio links in ensuring the
safe and secure operation of international shipping and commerce, they
must be resilient to interference;

*d)* that studies will be required to provide a basis for considering
regulatory changes, including additional allocations and
recommendations, designed to accommodate spectrum requirements of ship
and port security, consistent with the protection of incumbent services,

resolves

1 that WRC-10 consider the spectrum requirements for the operation of
ship and port security systems;

2 that WRC-10 consider additional allocations to the maritime mobile
and/or maritime mobile-satellite service to support the requirements
identified in *resolves* 1, with a view towards using existing maritime
mobile allocations where practicable, particularly where international
interoperability is required,

*further resolves to invite the ITU-R*

1 to conduct, as a matter of urgency, studies to determine the spectrum
requirements and potential frequency bands suitable to support ship
safety and port security systems;

2 that the studies referred to in *further resolves* 1 should include
sharing and compatibility studies with services already having
allocations in potential spectrum for ship safety and port security
systems,

*further invites*

all members of the Radiocommunications Sector, the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Association of Marine
Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) to contribute to
these studies,

*instructs the Secretary-General*

to bring this Resolution to the attention of the International Maritime
Organization (IMO), the International Association of Marine Aids to
Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) and other international and
regional organizations concerned.

[^1]: IMO CONFERENCE OF CONTRACTING GOVERNMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL
    CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA, 1974,
    SOLAS/CONF.5/5/Rev.1, SOLAS chapter XI has been amended to include
    special measures for maritime security (XI-1 and XI-2)

[^2]: IMO COMSAR 10/16, Report to the Maritime Safety Committee, dated
    27 March 2006.

[^3]: International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee
    104 -- Freight Containers (ISO TC 104) letter to ITU-R dated 21 May,
    2003.