Report No. CIB 98-23     COMPLIANCE & INFORMATION ACTION         November 13, 1998


         PRIVATIZED SHIP RADIO INSPECTIONS MEET FCC GOALS

     The Federal Communications Commission today announced that, for the first time, 
private sector inspectors are now conducting all required inspections of ship radio
communications equipment to ensure that they meet U.S. Government safety standards for
functioning during emergency situations.  Previously, the inspections were only performed by
agents of the Commission's Compliance and Information Bureau (CIB). 

     The FCC said the new private sector inspection program meets two goals: (1) to reduce
economic burdens on both the maritime industry and the FCC,  and (2) to make radio equipment 
inspections more convenient for the maritime industry by increasing the supply and availability
of competent, private sector inspectors.  

     These changes allow ship operators to arrange for inspections at locations where the
commission does not have field offices, providing a wider choice of inspection times and places.
The new program also reduces financial and administrative burdens on the commission by
removing the requirement that Commission officials inspect more than 1,200 U.S. ships
annually.

     In privatizing the inspection program, the FCC established safeguards to ensure that the
use of private sector inspectors will not compromise safety.  The private sector inspector must be
an FCC licensed technician.  Also, FCC field agents will conduct random inspections of vessels
to ensure that the vessel's communications equipment meets the safety standards as verified by
the private sector inspector. 

     U.S. Law and FCC rules require that passenger and large cargo vessels receive a periodic
inspection, either every year or every 5 years depending on the specific type of
vessel. The private sector inspection program went into effect July 1, 1998. This year, the FCC
field offices conducted 68 such random inspections and found no major discrepancies.  The FCC
will randomly check 225 vessels in 1999.

                             - FCC - 

     News Media contact:  David H. Fiske at (202) 418-0500.
     Compliance and Information Bureau contact:  George R. Dillon at (202) 418-1100.