Sec. 80.359  Frequencies for digital selective calling (DSC).

    (a) General purpose calling. The following table describes the 
calling frequencies for use by authorized ship and coast stations for 
general purpose DSC. There are three series of paried frequencies. One 
series is for worldwide use; the other two series are for regional use. 
The ``Series A'' designation includes coast stations along, and ship 
stations in, the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean 
Sea. The ``Series B'' designation includes stations in any remaining 
areas. Stations must initiate contact on the appropriate regional 
frequency depending upon the location of the called station and 
propagation conditions. Acknowledgement is made on the paired frequency. 
The worldwide frequencies may be used for international calling, if 
calls on the appropriate regional frequencies are unsuccessful, or the 
regional series does not contain the appropriate band (e.g., 2 MHz). 
During normal working hours, all public coast stations capable of DSC 
operations must monitor the worldwide and regional frequencies 
appropriate for its location. The specific frequencies to be monitored 
will vary with propagation conditions.

[[Page 85]]



                                               General Purpose DSC                              
                
                                         [In kHz unless otherwise noted]                        
                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------
               Worldwide                              Series A                             Serie
s B             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------
       Ship                Coast               Ship              Coast              Ship        
      Coast     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------
458.5.............            455.5     .................  .................  ................  
................
2189.5............       \1\ 2177.0     .................  .................  ................  
................
4208.0............           4219.5             4208.5             4220.0             4209.5    
        4220.5  
6312.5............           6331.0             6313.0             6331.5             6313.5    
        6332.0  
8415.0............           8436.5             8415.5             8437.0             8416.0    
        8437.5  
12577.5...........          12657.0            12578.0            12657.5            12578.5    
       12658.0  
16805.0...........          16903.0            16805.5            16903.5            16806.0    
       16904.0  
18898.5...........          19703.5            18899.0            19704.0            18899.5    
       19704.5  
22374.5...........          22444.0            22375.0            22444.5            22375.5    
       22445.0  
25208.5...........          26121.0            25209.0            26121.5            25209.5    
       26122.0  
\2\ 156.525.......      \2\ 156.525     .................  .................  ................  
................
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------
\1\ The frequency 2177.0 kHzs is also available to ship stations for intership calling and ackno
wledgement of   
  such calls only.                                                                              
                
\2\ MHz.                                                                                        
                

    (b) Distress and safety calling. The frequencies 2187.5 kHz, 4207.5 
kHz, 6312.0 kHz, 8414.5 kHz, 12577.0 kHz, 16804.5 kHz, and 156.525 MHz 
may be used for DSC by coast and ship stations on a simplex basis for 
distress and safety purposes. The provisions and procedures for distress 
and safety calling are contained in CCIR Recommendation 541 as modified 
by Sec. 80.103(c) of this part.
    (c) Working frequencies. Coast and ship stations may use DSC 
techniques for general calling purposes on their assigned working 
frequencies in the 2000-27500 kHz band and on those frequencies in the 
156-162 MHz band which are allocated for maritime control, commercial, 
non-commercial and public correspondence communications.
[ 51 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at  54 FR 49995 , Dec. 4, 1989;  56 FR 9890 , Mar. 8, 1991;  56 FR 14150 , Apr. 5, 1991]