FCC: Radio Buoys Operating in the 1.900 to 2.000 kHz Band

[ET Docket No. 15-99]
1. The Commission proposes to amend Section 80.375 of its Rules to make the 1,900 kHz to 2,000 kHz band available to commercial fishing vessels for use by radio buoys on the open sea and to include them in the equipment authorized as part of a ship station license. Authorization allows buoys to transmit on any frequency in the 1,900 kHz to 2,000 kHz band; provided that the transmitter output power does not exceed 10 watts and that the antenna height of the buoy station does not exceed 4.6 meters (15 feet) above sea level.

2. The Commission next proposes rules for the use of SELCAL buoys. Therefore, they also propose to authorize ship stations to transmit selective calling signals on all frequencies in the 1,900 kHz to 2,000 kHz band, provide that transmitter output power does not exceed 10 watts and that the ship station’s antenna height does not exceed 6 meters (20 feet) above the mast of the ship on which it is installed.

3. Finally, the Commission proposes a footnote to the Table of Frequency Allocations (47 C.F.R. §2.106) to restrict radio buoy operations to the open sea “based on the areas where radio buoys appear to be in use” and to “provide greater protection for amateur stations by excluding radio buoys from ‘inland waters’.” The proposed footnote is named NG92.

More Information:
1. (PDF) Radio Buoys Operating in the 1,900 to 2,000 kHz Band (Released April 27, 2015)