[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