§ 80.57   Canada/U.S.A. channeling arrangement for VHF maritime public
correspondence.

   (a) Canada/U.S.A. arrangement. Pursuant to arrangements between the United
   States and Canada, assignment of VHF frequencies in the band 156-162 MHz to
   public coast stations in certain areas of Washington state, the Great Lakes
   and the east coast of the United States must be made in accordance with the
   provisions of this section.

   (b) Definitions. On the west coast, specific terms are defined as follows:

   (1) Inland Waters Public Correspondence Sector. A distinct geographical area
   in which one primary and one supplementary channel is allotted. A number of
   local channels may also be authorized.

   (2) Coastal Waters Public Correspondence Sector. A distinct geographical
   area in which one primary and one supplementary channel is allotted. Local
   channels may also be authorized.

   (3) Inland waters. Inland waters of western Washington and British Columbia
   bounded by 47 degrees latitude on the south, the Canada/U.S.A. Coordination
   Zone  Line  B  on the north, and to the west by 124 degrees 40 minutes
   longitude at the west entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

   (4) Coastal waters. Waters along the Pacific Coast of Washington state and
   Vancouver Island within the Canada/U.S.A. Coordination Zone.

   (5) Inland Waters Primary Channel. A channel intended to cover the greater
   portion of an Inland Waters Public Correspondence Sector. It may provide
   some coverage to an adjacent sector but must not provide coverage beyond the
   adjacent sector. Harmful interference beyond the adjacent sector must not
   occur. Only one primary channel will be authorized in any sector.

   (6) Inland waters of western Washington and British Columbia bounded by
   46°59′59.3″ north latitude on the south, the Canada/U.S.A. Coordination Zone
   Line B on the south, and to the west by 124°40′4.7″ west latitude at the
   west entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

   Note: All coordinates are referenced to North American Datum 1983 (NAD83).

   (7)  Inland  Waters Local Channel. A channel designed to provide local
   coverage of certain bays, inlets and ports where coverage by primary or
   supplementary channels is poor or where heavy traffic loading warrants. A
   local  channel  must  not cause harmful interference to any primary or
   supplementary channels. Coverage must be confined to the designated sector.

   (8)  Coastal  Waters Primary Channel. Same as (5) except for technical
   characteristics.

   (9) Coastal Waters Supplementary Channel. Same as (6) except for technical
   characteristics.

   (10)  Coastal  Waters  Local Channel. Same as (7) except for technical
   characteristics.

   (c) Technical characteristics. On the west coast, technical characteristics
   of public correspondence stations will be as follows:

   (1) Inland Waters Primary and Supplementary Channels. The effective radiated
   power (ERP) must not exceed 60 watts. Antenna height must not exceed 152
   meters (500 feet) above mean sea level (AMSL) with the exceptions noted in
   paragraph (d)(5) of this section.

   (2) Inland Waters Local Channel. ERP must not exceed 8 watts with an antenna
   height of no more than 15 meters (50 feet) AMSL or the ERP must not exceed 2
   watts with an antenna height of no more than 30 meters (100 feet) AMSL.

   (3) Coastal Waters Primary and Supplementary Channels. ERP must not exceed
   125 watts with no antenna restrictions.

   (4)  Coastal Waters Local Channel. ERP must not exceed 10 watts with a
   maximum antenna height of 76 meters (250 feet) AMSL.

   (5)  Harmful  interference  will  be determined and resolved using the
   definition and procedures of the ITU Radio Regulations.

   (6)  To  keep the ERP and antenna elevations at a minimum and to limit
   coverage to the desired areas, an informal application may be filed for
   special temporary authority in accordance with § § 1.41 and 1.931 of this
   chapter to conduct a field survey to obtain necessary data for informal
   application. Such data may accompany the application and be used in lieu of
   theoretical calculations as required in subpart P of this part. The Seattle
   FCC District Office must be notified in advance of scheduled tests.

   (d) Canada/U.S.A. channeling arrangement for West Coast VHF maritime mobile
   public correspondence. (1) The provisions of the Canada/U.S. channeling
   arrangement apply to waters of the State of Washington and of the Province
   of British Columbia within the coordination boundaries of “Arrangement A” of
   the  Canada/U.S.A.  Frequency  Coordination Agreement above 30 MHz. In
   addition, all inland waters as far south as Olympia are to be included. A
   map of these waters is contained in paragraph (d)(6) of this section, Figure
   1.

   (2)  The  channeling  arrangement  applies to the following VHF public
   correspondence channels: Channels 24, 84, 25, 85, 26, 86, 27, 87 and 28.

   (3) Public correspondence stations may be established by either country in
   accordance with the provisions of the arrangements. However, there must be
   an exchange of information prior to the establishment of new stations or a
   change in technical parameters of existing stations. Any channel except that
   used as primary or supplementary channel in a given sector is available for
   use as a local channel in that sector. Local channels are not protected from
   interference caused by primary or supplementary channels in adjacent sectors
   if these stations are in compliance with this section.

   (4)  Preliminary  local Canadian/U.S. coordination is required for all
   applications at variance with this section. This coordination will be in
   accordance  with  the provisions of Arrangement “A” of the Canada/U.S.
   Frequency Coordination Agreement over 30 MHz. Stations at variance with the
   arrangement  are  not  protected  from interference and must not cause
   interference to existing or future stations which are in accordance with the
   agreement.

   (5) The agreed channeling arrangements for the west coast are as follows:
     Public correspondence sector     Primary channel Supplementary channel
   British Columbia (Coastal Waters):                
   Tofino                                           24                   26
   Barkley Sound                                    27                   87
   British Columbia (Inland Waters)                  
   Juan de Fuca West (Canada)                       26                   24
   Juan de Fuca East (Canada)                       86                   84
   Gulf Islands                                     27                   ^1
   Strait of Georgia South                          26                   86
   Howe Sound                                       24                   84
   Strait of Georgia North                          26                   87
   Campbell River                                   28                   85
   Washington (Coastal Waters):                      
   Cape Johnson                                     26                   85
   Point Grenville                                  28                   25
   Washington (Inland Waters):                       
   Juan de Fuca West (U.S.A.)                       28                   ^1
   Juan de Fuca East (U.S.A.)                       25                   ^1
   San Juan Islands                                 28                   85
   Puget Sound North                                24                   87
   Puget Sound Hood Canal                           26                   25
   Lower Puget Sound                                28                   85

   ^1Supplementary channel not available.
   eCFR graphic ec02ap91.000.gif

   View or download PDF

   (e) Canada/U.S.A. VHF channeling arrangement on the Great Lakes and the St.
   Lawrence Seaway. Channels on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway
   will be assigned as follows:

   (1) The provisions of the arrangement apply to the waters of the Great Lakes
   and  the  St.  Lawrence  Seaway  within the coordination boundaries of
   “Arrangement A” of the Canada/U.S.A. Frequency Coordination Agreement above
   30 MHz.

   (2) The arrangement applies to the following public correspondence channels:
   Channels 24, 84, 25, 85, 26, 86, 27, 87, 28, and 88.

   (3) Canada and the U.S.A. use the following channeling arrangement:

   (i) Canadian channels: 24, 85, 27, 88 (Note 1).

   (ii) U.S.A. channels: 84, 25, 86, 87, 28 (Note 2).

   (iii) Shared channels: 26 (Note 3).

   Notes: 1. Also assignable to U.S. Stations within the frequency coordination
   zone following successful coordination with Canada.

   2. Also assignable to Canadian station within the frequency coordination
   zone following successful coordination with the United States.

   3. Changes to existing assignments and new assignments within the frequency
   coordination zone of either country are subject to prior coordination with
   the other Administration.

   (f) Canada/U.S.A. channeling arrangement for East Coast VHF maritime mobile
   public correspondence. For purposes of this section, channels on the east
   coast will be assigned as follows:

   (1) The provisions of the arrangement apply to the Canadian and U.S.A. east
   coast waters including the St. Lawrence Seaway within the coordination
   boundaries of “Arrangement A” of the Canada/U.S.A. Frequency Coordination
   Agreement above 30 MHz.

   (2) The arrangement applies to the following public correspondence channels:
   Channels 24, 84, 25, 85, 26, 86, 27, 87, 28, and 88.

   (3) Canada and the U.S.A. use the following channeling arrangement:

   (i) Canadian channels: 24, 85, 27, 88 (Note 1).

   (ii) U.S.A. channels: 84, 25, 86, 87, 28 (Note 2).

   (iii) Shared channel: 26 (Note 3).

   Notes: 1. Also assignable to U.S. stations within the frequency coordination
   zone following successful coordination with Canada.

   2. Also assignable to Canadian stations within the frequency coordination
   zone following successful coordination with the United States.

   3. Changes to existing assignments and new assignments within the frequency
   coordination zone of either country are subject to prior coordination with
   the other Administration.

   [ 51 FR 31213 , Sept. 2, 1986, as amended at  63 FR 68956 , Dec. 14, 1998;  73 FR 4480 , Jan. 25, 2008]

   return arrow Back to Top