95-646. Designate Prince William Sound as a Radio Protection Area for Mandatory Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 1995)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 2726-2727]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-646]
    
    
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    FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
    47 CFR Part 80
    
    [WT Docket No. 94-153; FCC 94-328]
    
    
    Designate Prince William Sound as a Radio Protection Area for 
    Mandatory Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)
    
    AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
    
    ACTION: Proposed rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Commission has proposed rules to add 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.
    
    DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 24, 1995; reply 
    comments on or before March 13, 1995.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    James Shaffer, (202) 418-0680, Private Radio Bureau.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice 
    of Proposed Rule Making FCC 94-328, adopted December 16, 1994, and 
    released January 3, 1995. The full text of this Notice of Proposed Rule 
    Making is available for inspection and copying during normal business 
    hours in the FCC Reference Center, Room 230, 1919 M. Street, NW., 
    Washington, DC. The complete text may be purchased from the 
    Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service, 
    Inc., 2100 M Street, Suite 140, Washington, DC 20037, telephone (202) 
    857-3800.
    
    Summary of Notice of Proposed Rule Making
    
        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, Pub. L. 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 (156.515 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. We are proposing, therefore, to add 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.''
    
    [[Page 2727]]
    
        4. Additionally, we propose to permit private coast stations 
    currently authorized to operate on Channel 11 within the proposed 
    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.
        5. We certify that the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 does not 
    apply to this rule making proceeding because if the proposed rule 
    amendments are promulgated, there will not be a significant economic 
    impact on a substantial number of small business entities, as defined 
    by Section 601(3) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The change 
    proposed herein will have a beneficial effect on the marine community 
    by allowing the Coast Guard to manage vessel traffic in the Prince 
    William Sound area in a more efficient manner. The Secretary shall send 
    a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rule Making, including the 
    certification, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
    Administration in accordance with paragraph 605(b) of the Regulatory 
    Flexibility Act. Pub. L. 96-354, 94 Stat. 1164, 5 U.S.C. Secs. 601-612 
    (1980).
    
    List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 80
    
        Communications equipment, Marine Safety.
    
    Federal Communication Commission.
    William F. Caton,
    Acting Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 95-646 Filed 1-10-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6712-01-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
01/11/1995
Department:
Federal Communications Commission
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Proposed rule.
Document Number:
95-646
Dates:
Comments must be submitted on or before February 24, 1995; reply comments on or before March 13, 1995.
Pages:
2726-2727 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
WT Docket No. 94-153, FCC 94-328
PDF File:
95-646.pdf
CFR: (1)
47 CFR 80