§  3.2   Terms and definitions.

   (a) Accounting Authority. The Administration of the country that has
   issued the license for a mobile station or the recognized operating
   agency or other entity/entities designated by the Administration in
   accordance with ITR, Appendix 2 and ITU-T Recommendation D.90 to whom
   maritime accounts in respect of mobile stations licensed by that
   country may be sent.

   (b) Accounting Authority Certification Officer. The official designated
   by the Managing Director, Federal Communications Commission, who is
   responsible, based on the coordination and review of information
   related to applicants, for granting certification as an accounting
   authority in the maritime mobile and maritime mobile-satellite radio
   services. The Accounting Authority Certification Officer may initiate
   action to suspend or cancel an accounting authority certification if it
   is determined to be in the public's best interest.

   (c) Accounting Authority Identification Codes (AAICs). The discrete
   identification code of an accounting authority responsible for the
   settlement of maritime accounts (Annex A to ITU-T Recommendation D.90).

   (d) Administration. Any governmental department or service responsible
   for discharging the obligations undertaken in the Convention of the
   International Telecommunication Union and the Radio Regulations. For
   purposes of these rules, “Administration” refers to a foreign
   government or the U.S. Government, and more specifically, to the
   Federal Communications Commission.

   (e) Authorization. Approval by the Federal Communications Commission to
   operate as an accounting authority. Synonymous with “certification”.

   (f) CCITT. The internationally recognized French acronym for the
   International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee, one of
   the former sub-entities of the International Telecommunication Union
   (ITU). The CCITT (ITU-T)^1 is responsible for developing international
   telecommunications recommendations relating to standardization of
   international telecommunications services and facilities, including
   matters related to international charging and accounting principles and
   the settlement of international telecommunications accounts.

   ^1 At the ITU Additional Plenipotentiary Conference in Geneva
   (December, 1992), the structure, working methods and construct of the
   basic ITU treaty instrument were modified. The result is that the names
   of the sub-entities of the ITU have changed (e.g., the CCITT has become
   the Telecommunication Standardization Sector—ITU-T and Recognized
   Private Operating Agency has become Recognized Operating Agency-ROA).
   The changes were placed into provisional effect on March 1, 1993 with
   the formal entry into force of these changes being July 1, 1994. We
   will refer to the new nomenclatures within these rules, wherever
   practicable.

   Such recommendations are, effectively, the detailed implementation
   provisions for topics addressed in the International Telecommunication
   Regulations (ITR).

   (g) Certification. Approval by the FCC to operate as an accounting
   authority. Synonymous with “authorization”.

   (h) Coast Earth Station. An earth station in the fixed-satellite
   service or, in some cases, in the maritime mobile-satellite service,
   located at a specified fixed point on land to provide a feeder link for
   the maritime mobile-satellite service.

   (i) Coast Station. A land station in the maritime mobile service.

   (j) Commission. The Federal Communications Commission. The FCC.

   (k) Gold Franc. A monetary unit representing the value of a particular
   nation's currency to a gold par value. One of the monetary units used
   to effect accounting settlements in the maritime mobile and the
   maritime mobile-satellite services.

   (l) International Telecommunication Union (ITU). One of the United
   Nations family organizations headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland along
   with several other United Nations (UN) family organizations. The ITU is
   the UN agency responsible for all matters related to international
   telecommunications. The ITU has over 180 Member Countries, including
   the United States, and provides an international forum for dealing with
   all aspects of international telecommunications, including radio,
   telecom services and telecom facilities.

   (m) Linking Coefficient. The ITU mandated conversion factor used to
   convert gold francs to Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). Among other
   things, it is used to perform accounting settlements in the maritime
   mobile and the maritime mobile-satellite services.

   (n) Maritime Mobile Service. A mobile service between coast stations
   and ship stations, or between ship stations, or between associated
   on-board communication stations. Survival craft stations and emergency
   position- indicating radiobeacon stations may also participate in this
   service.

   (o) Maritime Mobile-Satellite Service. A mobile-satellite service in
   which mobile earth stations are located on board ships. Survival craft
   stations and emergency position-indicating radiobeacon stations may
   also participate in this radio service.

   (p) Public Correspondence. Any telecommunication which the offices and
   stations must, by reason of their being at the disposal of the public,
   accept for transmission. This usually applies to maritime mobile and
   maritime mobile-satellite stations.

   (q) Recognized Operating Agencies (ROAs). ^2 Individuals, companies or
   corporations, other than governments or agencies, recognized by
   administrations, which operate telecommunications installations or
   provide telecommunications services intended for international use or
   which are capable of causing interference to international
   telecommunications. ROAs which settle debtor accounts for public
   correspondence in the maritime mobile and maritime mobile-satellite
   radio services must be certified as accounting authorities.

   ^2 Id.

   (r) Ship Station. A mobile station in the maritime mobile service
   located on board a vessel which is not permanently moored, other than a
   survival craft station.

   (s) Special Drawing Right (SDR). A monetary unit of the International
   Monetary Fund (IMF) currently based on a market basket of exchange
   rates for the United States, West Germany, Great Britain, France and
   Japan but is subject to IMF's definition. One of the monetary units
   used to effect accounting settlements in the maritime mobile and
   maritime mobile-satellite services.

   (t) United States. The continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, the
   Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands or any territory or
   possession of the United States.

Eligibility