§ 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