Report No. DC 95-132       ACTION IN DOCKET CASE           November 8, 1995


      COMMISSION AMENDS RULES CONCERNING THE GENERAL EXEMPTIONS FOR 
                 LARGE OCEANGOING CARGO VESSELS AND SMALL 
                             PASSENGER VESSELS
                          (PR DOCKET NO. 93-133)

     The Commission has amended its maritime service rules to
broaden, update and clarify general exemptions from the
radiotelegraph equipment requirements of the Communications Act
for large cargo vessels, and from the radiotelegraph and radio
communication requirements of the Communications Act and Safety
Convention, respectively, for small passenger vessels.

     The Commission said that by updating the general exemptions,
the final rules will eliminate unnecessary regulatory burdens on
several sectors of the marine community while promoting the
carriage of state-of-the-art, redundant communication systems
which will maintain safety at sea.

     The Commission broadened the general exemption from the
radiotelegraph requirements of the Communications Act for large
oceangoing cargo vessels (those 1,600 gross tons and over) to: 
1) permit additional domestic voyages to Alaska and United States
possessions in the Caribbean, within 150 nautical miles of land,
and 2) include vessels equipped with Global Maritime Distress and
Safety System (GMDSS) radio installation in lieu of
radiotelegraph equipment.  The Commission stated that this action
will eliminate the administrative burdens associated with
preparing and processing such requests, without decreasing safety
of life at sea.

     The Commission also broadened the general exemption from the
radio communications requirements of the Communications Act for
small passenger vessels operated on certain domestic voyages to
include short international voyages.  This includes short
international voyages (not more than 20 nautical miles from land
or, altenatively, not more than 200 nautical miles between
consecutive ports) to: the Bahamas; islands in the Caribbean Sea
as far south as Venezuela; Baja California, Mexico; and British
Columbia, Canada.  The Commission stated that such voyages do not
present a greater safety concern than those already authorized
under the current general exemption.  

                                  (over)

                                    -2-

     Action by the Commission October 27, 1995, by Report and
Order (FCC 95-447).  Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello,
Barrett, Ness, and Chong.

                                   -FCC-

     News Media contact: Patricia A. Chew at (202) 418-0500.
     Wireless Telecommunications Bureau contact: Roger Noel at
(202) 418-0680.