§ 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 (incorporated by
   reference, see § 80.7), 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 (incorporated by reference,
   see § 80.7). Nondesignated public and private coast stations must follow
   the guidance provided for ship stations in ITU-R M.541-9 (incorporated
   by reference, see § 80.7), 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.

   [ 68 FR 46961 , Aug. 7, 2003, as amended at  73 FR 4480 , Jan. 25, 2008;  76 FR 67610 , Nov. 2, 2011]

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