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.541–9, “Operational Procedures for the
   Use  of  Digital  Selective-Calling  Equipment  in the Maritime Mobile
   Service,” with Annexes 1 through 5, 2004, 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 acknowledgment of DSC distress and safety calls must be made by
   designated coast stations and such acknowledgment must be in accordance with
   procedures contained in ITU–R M.541–9, “Operational Procedures for the Use
   of Digital Selective-Calling Equipment in the Maritime Mobile Service,” with
   Annexes 1 through 5, 2004. Nondesignated public and private coast stations
   must  follow the guidance provided for ship stations in ITU–R M.541–9,
   “Operational Procedures for the Use of Digital Selective-Calling Equipment
   in  the Maritime Mobile Service,” with Annexes 1 through 5, 2004, with
   respect to DSC “Acknowledgment 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.541–9 with Annexes 1 through 5, 2004, 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, as amended at  73 FR 4480 , Jan. 25, 2008]