Sec. 87.417  Scope of service.

    (a) Airport control tower stations (control towers) and control 
tower remote communications outlet stations (RCOs) must limit their 
communications to the necessities of safe and expeditious operations of 
aircraft operating on or in the vicinity of the airport. Control towers 
and RCOs provide air traffic control services to aircraft landing, 
taking off and taxing on the airport as well as aircraft transiting the 
airport traffic area. Additionally, control towers and RCOs can provide 
air traffic control services to vehicles operating on airport movement 
areas (see subpart L of this part). Control towers and RCOs must serve 
all aircraft without discrimination. An RCO must be remotely operated 
from a control tower or other FAA control facility located at a nearby 
airport.

[[Page 231]]

    (b) A control tower must maintain a continuous watch on the 
following frequencies during the hours of operation:

121.500 MHz
3023.0 kHz (Alaska only)
5680.0 kHz (Alaska only)

    The Commission may exempt from these watch requirements the licensee 
of an airport control tower station if a satisfactory showing has been 
made that such an exemption will not adversely affect life and property 
in the air.
[ 53 FR 28940 , Aug. 1, 1988, as amended at  54 FR 11721 , Mar. 22, 1989;  55 FR 30464 , July 26, 1990]