PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 TTY 202 / 418-2555 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov DA 07-1732 Released: April 17, 2007 COMMISSION ANNOUNCES AGREEMENTS WITH SHINE MICRO, INC., AND UNITED STATES POWER SQUADRONS, INC., AND TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT WITH MARITEL, INC., REGARDING ASSIGNMENT OF MARITIME MOBILE SERVICE IDENTITIES (MMSIs) An MMSI is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the Commission to commercial and recreational U.S. vessels participating in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.1 The Commission assigns MMSIs through the ship station licensing process. In order to avoid unnecessary administrative burdens and processing delays for vessels that are not required to obtain an individual ship station license (“exempt” vessels),2 the Commission and the United States Coast Guard (Coast Guard) developed a standard agreement to implement with private entities desiring to issue MMSIs, and entered into Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) with BoatUS and MariTEL, Inc. (MariTEL),3 and later with Sea Tow Service International, Inc. (Sea Tow),4 to distribute MMSIs to exempt vessel operators. In December 2006 and April 2007, respectively, the Commission and the Coast Guard entered into MOAs with Shine Micro, Inc. and the United States Power Squadrons to distribute MMSIs to exempt vessel operators. Additionally, on February 19, 2007, MariTEL notified the Commission that it no longer wished to issue MMSI numbers and collect registration information, and proposed to transfer to Sea Tow its obligations regarding the MMSI numbers that MariTEL had issued. Because Sea Tow is already permitted to issue MMSIs and has agreed to assume MariTEL’s MMSI obligations, we approve 1 As required by treaty, the Commission assigns MMSIs in accordance with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations, and periodically notifies the ITU of assignments made to vessels traveling or communicating internationally. The MMSI serves as a "phone number" for the ship and must be programmed into the digital selective calling (DSC) radio by the user. Vessel owners need to obtain an MMSI prior to using a DSC radio or an INMARSAT ship earth station. MMSIs will also be used for shipborne universal automatic identification system transponders. 2 Vessels that are not required by law to carry a radio and do not make international voyages or communications are not required to obtain an individual license. See Amendment of Parts 80 and 87 of the Commission's Rules to Permit Operation of Certain Domestic Ship and Aircraft Radio Stations Without Individual Licenses, Report and Order, WT Docket No. 96-82, 11 FCC Rcd 14849 (1996). 3 See Commission Announces Revision of Procedures for Assigning Maritime Mobile Service Identities, Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 918 (2001). 4 See Commission Announces Agreement among Sea Tow Service International, Inc., the United States Coast Guard and the FCC to Assign Maritime Mobile Service Identities, Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 18833 (WTB PSPWD 2001). MariTEL’s requested transfer to Sea Tow. Consequently, operators of exempt vessels interested in obtaining an MMSI can now contact the following entities: Shine Micro, Inc. PO Box 340 Port Gamble, WA 98364 Judy Johnson Phone 360-437-2503 www.shinemicro.com United States Power Squadrons, Inc. 1504 Blue Ridge Road Raleigh, NC 27607 Staff Commander Gene A. Danko, SN Phone 860-214-4779 www.usps4mmsi.com Sea Tow Service International, Inc. 1560 Youngs Avenue Southold, New York 11971 Capt. Les Hall Capt. Joseph Frohnhoefer Phone 631-765-3660 www.4seatow.com BoatUS 880 South Pickett Street Alexandria, Virginia 22304 Elaine Dickinson Phone 703-461-2864 www.boatus.com The Commission will continue to accept requests from entities that want to issue MMSIs. Interested parties should submit a non-binding letter of intent to the address below or via email to "mayday@fcc.gov". The letter should set forth a description of the entity’s organization, the procedures it will use for assigning MMSIs, the geographic areas it will serve, its fee structure, and a point of contact. Both the FCC and the Coast Guard may deny a request to issue MMSI numbers if there is question of the requesting entity's ability to fulfill all aspects of the service to both the public and the government. Such requests should be sent to the following address. Federal Communications Commission Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Mobility Division 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, DC 20554 For further information, please contact Jim Shaffer of the Commission's Mobility Division at (202) 418-0687, TTY (202) 418-7233. --FCC--