§  80.101   Radiotelephone testing procedures.

   This section is applicable to all stations using telephony except where
   otherwise specified.

   (a) Station licensees must not cause harmful interference. When
   radiation is necessary or unavoidable, the testing procedure described
   below must be followed:

   (1) The operator must not interfere with transmissions in progress.

   (2) The testing station's call sign, followed by the word “test”, must
   be announced on the radio-channel being used for the test.

   (3) If any station responds “wait”, the test must be suspended for a
   minimum of 30 seconds, then repeat the call sign followed by the word
   “test” and listen again for a response. To continue the test, the
   operator must use counts or phrases which do not conflict with normal
   operating signals, and must end with the station's call sign. Test
   signals must not exceed ten seconds, and must not be repeated until at
   least one minute has elapsed. On the frequency 2182 kHz or 156.800 MHz,
   the time between tests must be a minimum of five minutes.

   (b) Testing of transmitters must be confined to single frequency
   channels on working frequencies. However, 2182 kHz and 156.800 MHz may
   be used to contact ship or coast stations as appropriate when signal
   reports are necessary. Short tests on 4125 kHz are permitted by vessels
   equipped with MF/HF radios to evaluate the compatibility of the
   equipment for distress and safety purposes. U.S. Coast Guard stations
   may be contacted on 2182 kHz or 156.800 MHz for test purposes only when
   tests are being conducted by Commission employees, when FCC-licensed
   technicians are conducting inspections on behalf of the Commission,
   when qualified technicians are installing or repairing radiotelephone
   equipment, or when qualified ship's personnel conduct an operational
   check requested by the U.S. Coast Guard. In these cases the test must
   be identified as “FCC” or “technical.”

   (c) Survival craft transmitter tests must not be made within actuating
   range of automatic alarm receivers.

   [ 51 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at  63 FR 29659 , June 1, 1998;
    68 FR 46961 , Aug. 7, 2003]