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.

   General Purpose DSC

   [In kHz unless otherwise noted]
        Worldwide         Series A        Series B
     Ship      Coast    Ship    Coast   Ship    Coast
       458.5     455.5                        
      2189.5  ^12177.0                        
      4208.0    4219.5  4208.5  4220.0  4209.0  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
   ^2156.525 ^2156.525                        

   ^1The frequency 2177.0 kHzs is also available to ship stations for intership
   calling and acknowledgement of such calls only.

   ^2MHz.

   (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,  and  may  also  be  used  for  routine ship-to-ship
   communications provided that priority is accorded to distress and safety
   communications.  The provisions and procedures for distress and safety
   calling  are  contained  in ITU–R Recommendation 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  Sec. 80.103(c).
   ITU–R Recommendation M.541–9 with Annexes 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.

   (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;  68 FR 46969 , Aug. 7, 2003;  73 FR 4485 , Jan. 25, 2008]