The following is from the NATIONAL GMDSS IMPLEMENTATION TASK FORCE Newsletter and Summary Record of October 19, 2007 Meeting FCC Response to Task Force Petition and Recommendations on MMSI Policy. On 11 October, the FCC issued Public Notice DA 07-4212 under WT Docket No. 07-230 inviting public comments on the Task Force Petition. Responses are to be received by 13 November 2007. Task Force members are urged to respond since numbers count. The full petition is on the Task Force website and essentially asks the FCC to modify their Universal Licensing System to permit boaters to keep an MMSI assigned by a registration agent such as BOATUS or Sea Tow when they apply for a Station License to go international; the petition also seeks to allow the boater to keep an FCC issued MMSI if they plan to drop the FCC Station License. Changing MMSI numbers can be expensive to the boater and often leads to duplication. For ease in commenting by email see below: Log onto FCC website www.fcc.gov Click the "ECFS" box on lower left margin Click "ECFS Home" on upper left margin Click "Submit a Filing" under ECF Main Links on top right Fill out the Cover sheet. Use Proceeding "07-230" not WT 07-230 or DA 07-4212 Type in comment or attach comment in pre-formatted file You should get an immediate response that the filing is accepted