§ 90.47 - Establishment in isolated areas.

(a) Eligibility. Persons or organizations maintaining establishment in isolated areas where public communications facilities are not available and where the use of radio is the only feasible means of establishing communication with a center of population, or other point from which emergency assistance might be obtained if needed, are eligible to hold authorizations to operate radio stations for the transmission of messages only during an actual or impending emergency endangering life, health or property for the transmission of essential communications arising from the emergency. The transmission of routine or non-emergency communications is strictly prohibited.

(b) Special eligibility showing. The initial application requesting a station authorization for an establishment in an isolated area shall be accompanied by a statement describing the status of public communication facilities in the area of the applicant's establishment; the results of any attempts the applicant may have made to obtain public communication service, and; in the event radio communications service is to be furnished under subparagraph (d)(2) of this section, a copy of the agreement involved must be submitted.

(c) Class and number of stations available. Persons or organizations in this category may be authorized to operate not more than one fixed station at any isolated establishment and not more than one fixed station in a center of population.

(d) Communication service rendered and received. (1) The licensee of a station at any establishment in an isolated area shall make the communication facilities of such station available at no charge to any person desiring the transmission of any communication permitted by paragraph (a) of this section.

(2) For the purpose of providing the communications link desired the licensee of a station at an establishment in an isolated area either may be the licensee of a similar station at another location or may obtain communication service under a mutual agreement from the licensee of any station in the Public Safety or Special Emergency Radio Services or any other station which is authorized to communicate with the special emergency fixed station.