Does anyone get the FCC license?

[Madwand]

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtBoater

"Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Radio License Information
An FCC ship station radio license is no longer required for any vessel travelling in U.S. waters which uses a VHF marine radio, radar or EPIRB, and which is not required to carry radio equipment. A license is necessary however for any vessel required to carry a marine radio, on an international voyage, or carrying an HF single sideband radiotelephone or marine satellite terminal."

Never heard of anyone doing this. Does anyone?

[cal40john]

I have a station license. I don't need a restricted permit as I have a General RadioTelephone Operators License. I'm in the Pacific Northwest and sometimes go into Canada. If you have an EPIRB you need the station license so the information is available to rescuers.


Not on topic, but I also have a Ham license.

[Madwand]

The paragraph above, as well as the FCC, say you don't need the license for the EPIRB.

[evm1024]

Originally Posted by Madwand

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtBoater

"Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Radio License Information
An FCC ship station radio license is no longer required for any vessel travelling in U.S. waters which uses a VHF marine radio, radar or EPIRB, and which is not required to carry radio equipment. A license is necessary however for any vessel required to carry a marine radio, on an international voyage, or carrying an HF single sideband radiotelephone or marine satellite terminal."

Never heard of anyone doing this. Does anyone?

I did.

[Jim Cate]

Me too, for decades now. But we go foreign and have a international MMSI.

Jim

[cal40john]

Originally Posted by Madwand

The paragraph above, as well as the FCC, say you don't need the license for the EPIRB.

You're right, I was remembering the FCC form asking for EPIRB info, so I forgot who actually keeps the database. It is NOAA that you register with, but the FCC still asks for the info if you have a station license -

How do I register an EPIRB?

Note that EPIRB data are requested in the MMSI registration process. This helps the Coast Guard correlate distress data and further increases the reliability of GMDSS.

[valhalla360]

I'm betting once you filter out those cruising internationally, 95-99% don't bother with the license.

And that's OK. Last thing you want is to scare people away from getting the proper equipment because it's difficult to get licensed. You get some silly comments on the VHF but overall it's a good trade off.

[steve77]

I have the staton license for the boat and the restricted radiotelephone operator permit, both from the FCC. However, we are sailing internationally, thus they are required. They are very easy to apply for online from the FCC website.

If we were only in the US and didn't have our SSB on board, I don't think I would have bothered.

Cheers!

Steve

[Madwand]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

I'm betting once you filter out those cruising internationally, 95-99% don't bother with the license.

I'm not understanding what you're saying here. If you filtered out international cruisers, there would be no need for the license and the number should be zero.

The reason I'm asking is because I watch anywhere from 150-200 sailing channels and while they are all pretty detail oriented about preparations, I've never seen one of them mention it.

As well, I am wondering how the U.S. government is telling me what to do while I'm in another country or no country at all and can't do anything about my radio use.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Madwand

I'm not understanding what you're saying here. If you filtered out international cruisers, there would be no need for the license and the number should be zero.

The reason I'm asking is because I watch anywhere from 150-200 sailing channels and while they are all pretty detail oriented about preparations, I've never seen one of them mention it.

As well, I am wondering how the U.S. government is telling me what to do while I'm in another country or no country at all and can't do anything about my radio use.

A percentage of those staying in US waters will still have a licenses:
- It's not required but also not prohibited.
- Some people think they will travel overseas but never do.
- Some boats are required to have a VHF and thus are required to hold a license (not typical of small cruising boats).
- At one time it was required, so you likely have some grandfathered in folks who still have one.

On the other hand, if you are traveling internationally, you always must hold a license. Generally, the US Govt won't track you down if you use a radio illegally offshore or in another country (though technically they probably could) but countries will provide reciprocity where they accept your US license while transiting thru their country.

Not sure why the videos you watched haven't talked about it but it's a fairly well established rule.

[Madwand]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

but countries will provide reciprocity where they accept your US license while transiting thru their country.

So other countries will ask for this license when checking in? I've never seen anyone report that either. Maybe it's so common no one bothers talking about it? Hard to imagine, some of the sailors I watch are pretty sketchy.

[captain465]

Where do you keep a radio on a Sunfish??????

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Madwand

So other countries will ask for this license when checking in? I've never seen anyone report that either. Maybe it's so common no one bothers talking about it? Hard to imagine, some of the sailors I watch are pretty sketchy.

I'm sure there are the stray cruiser out there that has gotten away without a license but this isn't a new issue and it's certainly within their right to check on licensing.

What research beyond watching youtube have you done?

[s/v Moondancer]

35 year, 70,000nm and 45 countries and I have never been asked for my radio licenses.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by s/v Moondancer

35 year, 70,000nm and 45 countries and I have never been asked for my radio licenses.

Big difference between "need to have" vs "need to show".

I've driven thousands of miles in Canada and never was asked to show my Drivers License...does that mean I didn't need one?