Sec. 80.101  Radiotelephone testing procedures.

    This section is applicable to all stations using telephony except 
where otherwise specified.
    (a) Station licensees must not cause harmful interference. When 
radiation is necessary or unavoidable, the testing procedure described 
below must be followed:
    (1) The operator must not interfere with transmissions in progress.
    (2) The testing station's call sign, followed by the word ``test'', 
must be announced on the radio-channel being used for the test.
    (3) If any station responds ``wait'', the test must be suspended for 
a minimum of 30 seconds, then repeat the call sign followed by the word 
``test'' and listen again for a response. To continue the test, the 
operator must use counts or phrases which do not conflict with normal 
operating signals, and must end with the station's call sign. Test 
signals must not exceed ten seconds, and must not be repeated until at 
least one minute has elapsed. On the frequency 2182 kHz or 156.800 MHz, 
the time between tests must be a minimum of five minutes.
    (b) Testing of transmitters must be confined to single frequency 
channels on working frequencies. However, 2182 kHz and 156.800 MHz may 
be used to contact ship or coast stations as appropriate when signal 
reports are necessary. Short tests on 2182 kHz by vessels with DSB (A3) 
equipment for distress and safety purposes are permitted to evaluate the 
compatibility of that equipment with an A3J emission system. U.S. Coast 
Guard stations may be contacted on 2182 kHz or 156.800 MHz for test 
purposes only when tests are being conducted during inspections by 
Commission representatives, when qualified radio technicians are 
installing or repairing the station radiotelephone equipment, or when 
qualified ship's personnel conduct an operational check requested by the 
U.S. Coast Guard. In these cases the test must be identified as ``FCC'' 
or ``technical''.
    (c) Survival craft transmitter tests must not be made within 
actuating range of automatic alarm receivers. Survival craft 
transmitters must not be tested on the frequency 500 kHz during the 
silence periods.