Maritime Communications

In this document, the Commission adopts rules that will streamline our licensing process for Automated Maritime Telecommunications System (AMTS) stations by utilizing a geographic area licensing system. With respect to high seas spectrum, the Commission will now process applications on a first-come, first-served basis, thereby precluding the filing of mutually exclusive applications and thus, the need to use competitive bidding procedures. The Commission believes that these decisions will increase competition in the provision of telecommunications services, promote more efficient use of maritime spectrum, increase the types of telecommunications services available to vessel operators, allow maritime commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) providers to respond more quickly to market demand, and reduce regulatory burdens on AMTS and high seas public coast station licensees.