Federal Communications Commission DA 13-1100 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of PAT L. GARDENHIRE Application to Renew License for Public Coast Station KUF681, Boyce, Texas ) ) ) ) ) ) FCC File No. 0005722167 ORDER Adopted: May 14, 2013 Released: May 15, 2013 By the Deputy Chief, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau: 1. On April 5, 2013, Pat L. Gardenhire filed the above-captioned application to renew the license for VHF Public Coast (VPC) Station KUF681, Boyce, Texas. For the reasons set forth below, we dismiss the application. 2. Station KUF681 is authorized to operate on frequencies 156.800 MHz (Channel 16) and 161.975 MHz (Channel 87B). Channel 16 is an international distress, safety, and calling frequency.1 Channel 87B was a public correspondence frequency, but in 2006 the Commission designated it for use by maritime Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) nationwide.2 The Commission grandfathered existing site-based VPC stations until the expiration of their current license terms but provided that authorizations to operate on Channel 87B would not be renewed.3 3. Because Station KUF681 is authorized for no VPC frequency other than Channel 87B, we dismiss the renewal application. We will not simply remove Channel 87B and renew the license for Channel 16 because a public coast station cannot operate without public correspondence frequencies. Moreover, we note that Gardenhire is also licensed at this location for VPC Station KQU605 on Channels 16 and 85B (161.875 MHz), so renewing the authorization only for Channel 16 would be redundant. 4. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Sections 4(i) and 303(i) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 154(i), 303(i), and Section 1.934 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.934, application FCC File No. 0005722167, filed by Pat L. Gardenhire on April 5, 2013, SHALL BE DISMISSED. 1 47 C.F.R. §§ 80.369(e)(3), 80.373(f). 2 See Amendment of the Commission’s Rules Regarding Maritime Automatic Identification Systems, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Fourth Memorandum Opinion and Order, WT Docket No. 04-344, 28 FCC Rcd 8892, 8904 ¶ 18 (2006). AIS is a maritime navigation safety communications system that provides vessel information, including the vessel’s identity, type, position, course, speed, navigational status and other safety-related information, automatically to appropriately equipped shore stations, other ships, and aircraft. Id. at 8893-94 ¶ 4. AIS enhances vessel tracking and monitoring capabilities, thereby reducing the risk of vessel collisions. Moreover, following September 11, 2001, AIS also has been viewed as an important asset for homeland security because its vessel tracking and monitoring capabilities can promote maritime domain awareness. Id. 3 See id. at 8933 ¶ 57; see also 47 C.F.R. §§ 2.106 note US228, 80.371(c)(1)(i) note 3. Federal Communications Commission DA 13-1100 2 5. This action is taken under delegated authority pursuant to Sections 0.131 and 0.331 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.131, 0.331. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Scot Stone Deputy Chief, Mobility Division Wireless Telecommunications Bureau