b'REGULATORY REPORTREGULATORY New Great Lakes Radiotelephone Inspection IntervalsPETER LAURIDSEN // PVA REGULATORY AFFAIRS CONSULTANTAits goalofthePas- oftheGLAonNov.2,2023,would describing the means of cycling in-long-soughtsenger Vessel Association render those rules a nullity with no spectionstothenewinspectioninter-for Great Lakes vessel practicaleffectonanyvessels,leaving valof48months.membershasbeenachieved.Effective the Commission with no means ofimmediately,theintervalbetweenre- carrying forward the enforcement of Radio certificates of inspection thatquiredinspectionofradiotelephones importantGreatLakes-specificradio- were valid on the effective date ofhasbeenextendedfromtheformer13 theGLAterminationdatedbetween monthsto48months. Oct.2,2022,andNov.2,2023,willA long-sought goal offromthedateofinspectionasopposedThe Great Lakes Agreement (GLA) to13monthsbevalidfor48months.wasabi-nationalagreementbetween the Passenger Vessel theUnitedStatesandCanadainitially Association for itsThecopyofCGD9MSIBUpdatedenteredintoin1954,andthenupdat- MarineRadioInspectionRegulationedandsignedonFeb.6,1973.The Great Lakes vesselfor Great Lakes Vessels is accessibleagreementestablishedcommonradio members has beenhere. The FCC updated regulationstelecommunication compatibility achieved. Effectivecanbefoundat47CFR80.953.ontheGreatLakeswherenavigatingvesselscouldandoftendidtransitin immediately, theThe process of addressing a bi-later-andoutoftheadjacentnationsjuris- interval betweenal national agreement was lengthy,diction. To ensure reliability under extraordinary and initiated by atheequipmenttechnologyofthetime required inspection ofquestion posed by PVA membertheradioinstallationwasrequiredto radiotelephones hasPeter Lindquist of Munising Baybeinspectedevery13months. Shipwreck Tours, Munising, Mich.been extended fromWhy,heasked,wasitnecessarytoin-OnNov.2,2022,Canadaunilaterally the former 13 monthsspectGreatLakesvesselsdigitalradioterminatedtheagreementwithtwelve to 48 months. equipment,thatdidnotfail,every13months written notice. On Nov. 2, monthswhenthesameradioswerein-2023,theeffectiveterminationofthe spectedonotherU.S.waterseveryfiveagreementmeantthatCanadianwa- yearsunderFCCrulesandeveryfourterswouldnowberegulatedunderits telephone installation requirements yearsunderCanadianRulesinservicedomesticregulationsthatinpartpro- in the absence of replacement rules. otherthantheGreatLakes.Thiswasvidedforinspectionsevery48months The Order removes references to the animportantquestionfromseasonal,insteadoftheformer13months. GLA continuing the effectiveness of smallbusinessoperators.Theinspec-the rules. The Order does adjust the tion by private sector license radioThe U.S. Federal Communication inspectionintervaltomatchthatofthe operators that charged a fee, travelCommissionOrder(Order)(FCC)ad- Canadiandomesticrulesto48months. costs,andoftenperdiemcouldbeaoptedonOct.30,2023establishedthat significantfigureintheyearlybudget.itsregulationsthatwerepredicatedon OnNov.1,2023,the9thU.S.Coastthe continued existence of the GLA, GuardDistrictissuedaMarineSafety The discussion in the FCC Orderthe effective date of the termination Information Bulletin 05-23 (MSIB) notedthatnegotiationswereconduct-FOGHORN 32'