I know this is a bit long, but the subject has been on the list recently
and thought this may help.

Robert C. (Bob) Colby, Dept. Chief Operations, USCG Auxiliary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:  Becky Squires, 703-461-4388
December 7, 2000                 BSquires@BoatUS.com

BoatU.S. To Provide Free DSC Radio Registration

The Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard last week
named BoatU.S. as the first non-governmental organization to issue boaters
identification numbers for marine radios with Digital Selective Calling
(DSC). Before BoatU.S. volunteered, boaters wanting identification numbers
had to pay $120 for an FCC license. BoatU.S. is offering boaters this
service free of charge.

Identification numbers for DSC, a new radio technology that makes it much
easier to help boaters in distress, are available online at BoatUS.com, or
by telephone, fax or mail. With 515,000 members, BoatU.S. is the largest
organization of recreational boaters in the world.

DSC is part of the global transition in maritime distress communications
from voice calls (on channel 16) to digital communication. For DSC radios
to work properly, their owners need a valid FCC ID number (called a
Maritime Mobile Service Identity or MMSI) which registers their boats'
information in
the Coast Guard's national distress database. As neither the FCC nor the
Coast Guard had the budget or staff to begin registering DSC radios that in
the future could number in the hundreds of thousands, BoatU.S. stepped in
and offered to get the job done at no cost to the government.

"This new public-private partnership demonstrates what can be done when we
work with the federal government to create programs that will benefit the
entire boating community," said BoatU.S. President Bill Oakerson. "We took
the lead on this and, although the government allows a fee to be charged, we
decided that BoatU.S. should totally underwrite this service because DSC
radios have the potential to save many lives within a few years. We also
wanted to protect our members from what could have been a steep fee, had
the government simply turned the function over to a commercial provider," he
added.

DSC radios have been on the consumer market for several years and, in 1999,
the FCC began requiring all new models of fixed-mount radios to be equipped
with the DSC feature. DSC's major advantage lies in its ability to send an
automatic mayday which not only identifies the vessel (by the MMSI) but also
gives its location when the radio is connected to a Loran or GPS. Should
the skipper become disabled, a DSC radio will continue sending a mayday.
Commercial ships have been required to monitor the DSC-reserved distress
channel 70 since 1999.

"It's important for boaters to understand that the Coast Guard is not yet
monitoring Channel 70 for DSC maydays, and may not be until 2005-6," said
Elaine Dickinson,  BoatU.S. assistant vice president for government
affairs, who spearheaded the work on the MMSI agreement with the FCC and
Coast Guard.
"However, there have already been instances where commercial ships required
to monitor the DSC-reserved channel  for distress calls have relayed DSC
maydays to the Coast Guard," she said.

Recreational boaters on U.S. waters have not had to have an FCC ship
station license since 1996, after BoatU.S. successfully lobbied for three
years to reverse the tide of high government fees for minimal services for
boaters.
"The license fees became a deterrent to boaters putting two-way radios on
their boats," said Dickinson.  "We realized that forcing boaters back into
licensing, at a cost of $120 simply to obtain an MMSI ID number, would
undermine the life-saving purpose of the registration system."

DSC has another use available now to boaters as well as commercial vessels.
With an MMSI number, one boater can make a "private" radio call to another
DSC-equipped vessel. Only the radio number called will receive the
transmission. This is especially useful for vessel operators who want to
contact another vessel without their calls being broadcast.

To register, Dickinson said, boaters may go online to BoatUS.com and click
on "MMSI." Once the registration form is accepted, their MMSI numbers will
be issued electronically. Boaters may also e-mail BoatU.S. at
MMSI@BoatUS.com. To ask questions or get a registration form by phone, call
800-563-1536; completed forms may be faxed to BoatU.S. at 703-461-2840 or
mailed to the BoatU.S. MMSI Program at 880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA
22304.

=Question:  How is it possible for the US to require Marine Radio
=registration on boats outside US waters  On the surface this doesn't make
=sence.

It does if you dig a little deeper.  Every nation has a right to regulate
radio transmissions in it's own territorial waters.  So to keep sailors and
merchantmen from having to get a station license from every little island
state and country we visit (and paying cash for all kinds of licenses--some
foreign VHF licenses have yearly fees of up to $100 US or more), there is an
international treaty that says if you're licensed in your home country, then
we'll recognize your license in this country.  That's why Brits coming here
don't have to get a US station license, if they're already licensed in their
home waters.

Lest you think it's a stick it to the American's game, it's my understanding
that we charge very big money for temporary alien-national VHF station
licenses for boat arriving in this country without a radio license issued by
their home port country (most non-US citizens will tell you this is one of
the most restrictive and difficult countries in the world to visit by boat).

There is also an international agreement that boats in international waters
will have radio licenses from their home countries, which relates, in part,
to the next point. That is because VHF radio calls and DSC (even far
offshore  through the relay function of this radio system) can initiate
expensive and dangerous SAR efforts worldwide, DSC transmitters will be
licensed.  The maritime governments of the world want to know who is
responsible for the transmitter that could launch a million dollar search
and rescue effort.  That's the same reason why 406 EPIRBs are registered.

Additionally, if you're going foreign, at least one person aboard should
have a FCC Restricted Radio Operator's Permit (or higher commercial radio
license).  The fee for this is $35 and it is good for life.  There is no
test.  The same treaty philosophy holds.  Many nations require testing and
big money to get a VHF radio license, some with annual renewal. However, by
treaty, if you have an RROP in you home country, then yours will be
recognized in another country's  territorial waters.

Some nations confiscate (or at least remove for the duration of the stay)
unlicensed, illegal radio equipment.  It's a hit or miss thing, but I have
had radio licenses inspected by boarding officials from countries we've
visited.  Certainly if something goes wrong with your relations with foreign
officials, any little discrepancy could result in loss of radio equipment,
large fines and, sometimes, jail time.  So, this is easy and cheap
insurance.

We have special reciprocal treaties with Canada (and I think Mexico) that
waive station and operator licensing for each other's boats operating in
each county's territorial waters temporarily.

Here's the deal.  FCC station licenses are good for 10 years and cost $100
(or there abouts).  But changes and additions cost $100,. too.  So if you
anticipate going foreign and getting an FCC station license mark every mode
and style of transmitter available, even if you don't know what they are.
Be sure to request a DSC ID.

If you have and use a Marine HF SSB and certain other radio transmitters
aboard your vessel, you will have to get an FCC station license, even in US
waters.  And remember, in many foreign countries the government owns the
telephone system.  They see Marine HF SSB as way of cheating them out of
telephone revenues.  So it's very important to have your radio license ducks
in a row when going foreign with Marine HF SSB.

Reciprocal Ham licenses, because it's a "hobby" is whole different mess.

Rick

Rick the Mouseherder - nh2f
Westsail 32 Xapic, Hull #438
Annapolis, MD

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beats a 40 footer tied to the Bank.

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