Sec.  80.103   Digital selective calling (DSC) operating procedures.

   (a) Operating procedures for the use of DSC equipment in the maritime mobile
   service are as contained in ITU-R M.541–8, “Operational Procedures for the
   Use of Digital Selective-Calling Equipment in the Maritime Mobile
   Service,” with Annexes, 1997, and subpart W of this part.

   (b) When using DSC techniques, coast stations and ship stations must use
   maritime mobile service identities (MMSI) assigned by the Commission or its
   designees.

   (c) DSC acknowledgement of DSC distress and safety calls must be made by
   designated coast stations and such acknowledgement must be in accordance
   with procedures contained in ITU-R M.541–8, “Operational Procedures for the
   Use of Digital Selective-Calling Equipment in the Maritime Mobile
   Service,” with Annexes, 1997. Nondesignated public and private coast
   stations must follow the guidance provided for ship stations in ITU-R
   M.541–8, “Operational Procedures for the Use of Digital Selective-Calling
   Equipment in the Maritime Mobile Service,” with Annexes, 1997, with respect
   to DSC “Acknowledgement of distress calls” and “Distress relays.” (See
   subpart W of this part.)

   (d) Group calls to vessels under the common control of a single entity are
   authorized. A group call identity may be created from an MMSI ending in a
   zero, assigned to this single entity, by deleting the trailing zero and
   adding a leading zero to the identity.

   (e) ITU-R M.541–8 with Annexes, 1997, is incorporated by reference. The
   Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference in
   accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part 51. Copies of this standard
   can be inspected at the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street,
   SW., Washington, DC (Reference Information Center) or at the National
   Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the
   availability of this material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go to:
   http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_loc
   ations.html. The ITU-R Recommendation can be purchased from the
   International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Place des Nations, CH–1211
   Geneva 20, Switzerland.

   [ 68 FR 46961 , Aug. 7, 2003]