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 PUBLIC  NOTICE  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  St.,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 DA  04-  4052 
 Released:  December  28,  2004 


 Review  of  Applications  for  Equipment  Authorization  of  Ship  Security  Alerting  Systems  (SSAS)  Using  the  COSPAS/  SARSAT  Satellite  System 


 On  July  1,  2004,  Chapter  XI-  2,  Regulation  6,  Revised  Performance  Standards  for  a  Ship  Security  Alert  System  (SSAS),  of  the  Safety  of  Life  at  Sea  Convention,  to  which  the  United  States  is  a 
 signatory,  went  into  effect.  The  SSAS  provides  a  means  for  certain  ships  to  transmit  a  covert  security  alert  to  shore  to  indicate  that  the  security  of  the  ship  is  under  threat  or  has  been 
 compromised.  The  U.  S.  Coast  Guard  will  assure  that  required  vessels  meet  SSAS  requirements  during  its  inspection  of  vessels. 


 The  Commission’s  Part  80  rules  governing  stations  in  the  Maritime  Service  require  certification  for  various  radio  transmitters  used  on  board  ships  and  by  coast  stations.  The  IMO  Resolution 
 recommended  only  functional  requirements  for  the  SSAS,  not  technical  standards.  Certain  equipment  meeting  current  Part  80  requirements  may  be  utilized  to  meet  SSAS  requirements.  In 
 addition,  there  is  equipment  that  meets  the  RTCM  Recommended  Standard  for  SSAS,  but  does  not  meet  the  current  Part  80  requirements.  1  The  Commission  issued  a  Notice  of  Proposed  Rule 
 Making  in  PR  Docket  00-  48  that  addresses  the  SSAS  and  seeks  comment  on  certification  requirements  for  the  equipment.  2  During  the  pendency  of  the  rulemaking  proceeding,  for  SSAS 
 equipment  not  meeting  all  current  Part  80  requirements,  the  FCC  Laboratory  will  review  applications  for  certification  under  the  RTCM  recommended  standard  for  SSAS  equipment. 


 Questions  concerning  SSAS  standards  may  be  directed  to  Jim  Shaffer  of  the  Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  at  James.  Shaffer@  fcc.  gov,  and  questions  concerning  equipment 
 authorization  may  be  directed  to  Andrew  Leimer  of  the  Office  of  Engineering  and  Technology  at  Andrew.  Leimer@  fcc.  gov. 


 -FCC- 
 1  See  RTCM  Recommended  Standards  for  Ship  Security  Alerting  Systems  (SSAS)  Using  the 
 COSPAS/  SARSAT  Satellite  System,  Version  1.0,  June  4,  2004. 
 2  See  Amendment  of  Parts  13  and  80  of  the  Commission’s  Rules  Concerning  Maritime  Communications, 


 Second  Report  and  Order,  Sixth  Report  and  Order,  and  Second  Further  Notice  of  Proposed  Rule  Making,  PR  Docket  00-  48,  19  FCC  Rcd  3120,  3163-  64  ¶  85  (2004). 
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