WORLD RADIO CONFERENCE AMENDS
RADIO REGS TO CLARIFY GMDSS OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
Attached is an extract
of ITU Radio Regulations amendments (provisional final acts) regarding
maritime distress and safety, including GMDSS, as decided by
WRC07. GMDSS will no longer be on the agenda of future World
Radio Conferences, so it is unlikely to change again. The
merging of older voice procedures and newer GMDSS procedures resulted
in some new definitions.
The old, very specific details regarding 2182 kHz procedures were
retained in a resolution. The 500 kHz Morse telegraphy
distress and calling allocation was removed. 500 kHz is now
simply a general telegraphy (data) allocation.
Mandatory ITU pubs were simplified somewhat, with at least one being
eliminated (radiotermination and special services
publication). The Radio Bureau convinced the WRC to delay
implementing these pub changes until 31 Dec 2010 due to financial
impact.
Two maritime items were agreed for the agenda for the next WRC
scheduled for 2011: maritime HF, and ship and port security:
"1.9 to revise frequencies and
channelling arrangements of Appendix 17 to the Radio Regulations, in
accordance with Resolution 351 (Rev.WRC 07), in order to implement new
digital technologies for the maritime mobile service;
1.10 to examine the frequency allocation
requirements with regard to operation of safety systems for ships and
ports and the related regulatory provisions, in accordance with
Resolution [COM6/10] (WRC 07)"
The new regs may be downloaded here
(PDF file - requires Adobe Acrobat)
(Thanks to Joe Hersey
from the USCG)