FCC License

[Bulldawg]

Got a VHF radio for christmas anyone know what is the fee for the license?

[Brian_MN]

License is no longer required for small recreational boaters/fisherpeople to use a VHF.

Here's some info direct from the FCC's web site:




Ship Radio Stations
The Telecommunications Act of 1996, which became law on February 8, 1996, brought about fundamental changes in the licensing of ship radio stations. This page contains information on radios that may be used aboard a ship, which ship radio stations must be licensed by the FCC, and how to use your marine VHF radio.

General Information about the Service
Do I need a ship radio station license?
Do I need a restricted radiotelephone operator permit?
How to get a license (if you need one)
How to operate your marine VHF radio
FCC information (Forms, Fees, Rules)
Rule changes affecting boaters with radio

General Information
A shipboard radio station includes all the transmitting and receiving equipment installed aboard a ship for communications afloat. Depending on the size, purpose, or destination of a ship, its radio station must meet certain requirements established by law or treaty. For example, large passenger or cargo ships that travel on the open sea are required by the Communications Act and by international agreements to be equipped with a radio station for long distance radio communications. Passenger ships that travel along the coast must be able to communicate at shorter range with coast stations. These are examples of "compulsory ships" because they are required or compelled by treaty or statute to be equipped with specified telecommunications equipment.
Smaller ships used for recreation (e.g., sailing, diving, sport fishing fishing, water skiing) are not required to have radio stations installed but they may be so equipped by choice. These ships are known as "voluntary ships" because they are not required by treaty or statute to carry a radio but voluntarily fit some of the same equipment used by compulsory ships.

Ship stations may communicate with other ship stations or coast stations primarily for safety, and secondarily for navigation and operational efficiency. The FCC regulates marine communications in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, which monitors marine distress frequencies continuously to protect life and property. All users of marine radio, whether voluntary or compulsory, are responsible for observing both FCC and Coast Guard requirements.

The maritime mobile and maritime mobile satellite radio equipment listed below may be used aboard a ship. If your ship must be licensed, all equipment is authorized under a single ship radio station license.

VHF Radiotelephone (156-162 MHz) - Used for voice communications with other ships and coast stations over short distances.

Digital Selective Calling (DSC) - Used with VHF, MF, and HF radio systems to establish communications with (call) ships or coast stations or to receive calls from other ships or coast stations. Uses two tone digital signaling protocol to selectively call a particular station or to call a group of stations, all stations in a particular geographic area, or to call all stations.

Radar - Used for navigating, direction-finding, locating positions, and ship traffic control.

EPIRB - Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons, or EPIRBs, are used when a ship is in distress, to emit a radio signal marking the ship's location. Extreme care must be taken to prevent inadvertent activation and batteries should be replaced prior to expiration date.

Single sideband Radiotelephone (2-27.5 MHz) - Used to communicate over medium and long distances (hundreds, sometime thousands of nautical miles).

Satellite Radio - Used to communicate by means of voice, data or direct printing via satellites.

Radiotelegraph - Used to communicate by means of Morse code facsimile, or narrow-band direct-printing, any technique for coding and decoding printed text over radio.

Survival Craft Radio - Used only for communications during distress incidents between ship and rescue vessels/aircraft or between lifeboats and rafts.

On Board Radio - These are low-powered radios used for internal voice communications on board a ship or for authorized short range communications directly associated with ship operations.

In addition, ships may use GPS or LORAN receivers, depth finders, citizens band (CB) radios, or amateur radios (an amateur license from the FCC is required).





Do I Need a Ship Radio Station License?
On October 26, 1996, the FCC released a Report and Order in WT Docket No. 96-82, FCC 96-421 (text, WordPerfect), eliminating the individual licensing requirement for voluntary ships operating domestically which are not required by law to carry a radio. The paragraphs below describe how the rules affect the maritime public.

WHO NEEDS A SHIP STATION LICENSE?

You do not need a license to operate a marine VHF radio, radar, or EPIRBs aboard voluntary ships operating domestically. The terms "voluntary" and "domestic" are defined below. Although a license is no longer required for these ships, you may still obtain a license (and call sign) by following the procedures outlined in Section IV.

WHICH SHIPS ARE VOLUNTARY?

The term "voluntary ships" refers to ships that are not required by law to carry a radio. Generally, this term applies to recreation or pleasure craft. In any event, the term "voluntary ships" does not apply to the following:


Cargo ships over 300 gross tons navigating in the open sea;
Ships certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry more than 6 passengers for hire in the open sea or tidewaters of the U.S.;
Power driven ships over 20 meters in length on navigable waterways;
Ships of more than 100 gross tons certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry at least one passenger on navigable waterways;
Tow boats of more than 7.8 meters in length on navigable waterways; and,
Uninspected commercial fishing industry vessels required to carry a VHF radio.

[Bulldawg]

What if I am in canadain waters which is very often does this still apply?

[Boatnut]

The way I understand it, is that canada no longer requires recreational boaters to have a license. Apparently they changed their law to coincide with the U.S. law shortly after the U.S. changed their regulations.

I have however, heard that a radio operators permit (differnt then a station license) is still required, HOWEVER, these are FREE from the fcc and good for life.

[RVRRAT]

It is a good thing that a license is not required.I have a general operators license and it is no small task to pass the exam!
RR