G/TBT/N/USA/1248  
 
22 December 2016   
(16-7034) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member : UNITED STATES OF AME RICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved  (Article 3.2 and 7.2) :   
2. Agency responsible:  Federal Communicat ions Commission (FCC) [1267]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification  shall be indicated if different from above : Please submit 
comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email:  usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  ], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], other: X 
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers ma y be provided in addition, where applicable):  Maritime radio 
equipment  . Radiocommunications (ICS 33.060), Mobile services (ICS 33.070), Shipbuilding 
and marine structures in general (ICS 47.020)  
5. Title, number of pages  and language(s)  of the notified d ocument:  Maritime Radi o 
Equipment and Related Matters  (12 pages, in English).     
6. Description of content:  In this document, the Federal Communications Commission 
(Commission or FCC) addresses a number of important issues regarding updating rules 
and re quirements for technologies used to locate and rescue distressed ships and 
individuals in distress at sea or on land to provide better and more accurate data to rescue 
personnel. The Commission also addresses issues regarding radar equipment, the use of 
portable marine Very High Frequency (VHF) transmitters by persons on shore; permitting 
VHF digital small message service (VDSMS); and allowing assignment or transfer of control 
of ship station licenses. The Commission is amending its rules to permit the mari time 
community to make use of the most advanced and reliable communications technologies 
available for the alerting of search and rescue authorities when a vessel or individual is in 
distress, and to further the Commission's goal of ensuring that the spect rum allocated for 
emergency communications is used effectively and efficiently.  
7. Objective and rationale , including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: 
Protection of Human health or Safety  
8. Relevant documents:  81 Federal Register (FR) 90 739, 15 December 2016; Title 47 Code 
of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1, 25, 80 and 95.   Will appear in the Federal Register 
when adopted . 
Maritime Radio Equipment and Related Matters Proposed Rule published 1 April 2014:  
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2014-04-01/html/2014 -07140.htm   
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2014-04-01/pdf/2014 -07140.pdf    
9. Proposed date of adoption:   17 January 2017  
Proposed date of entry into force:   17 January 2017   G/TBT/N/USA/1248  
 
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  10. Final date for comments:  None 
11. Texts available from : National enquiry point  [  ] or address, telephone and fax 
number s and e mail and website address es, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/TBT/USA/16_5248_00_e.pdf