The FCC Laboratory will coordinate review of applications for certification of AIS equipment with the United States Coast Guard to ensure that the equipment meets all applicable international standards and requirements.  Essentially, AIS manufacturers must meet the requirements of the FCC's regulations for equipment authorization, 47 CFR 2 Subpart J (beginning 2.901), and the Coast Guard's Navigational and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 8-01, Approval of Navigation Equipment for Ships.  NVIC 8-01 describes the certification process for AIS and other navigation equipment described under the newly adopted SOLAS V.  The Federal Communications Commission has requested comments on how its rules should be amended to accommodate AIS certification, in a further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking under Docket PR 92-257.  Until these FCC rules are finally adopted, the procedures described in the FCC Notice and the NVIC should apply.

Current Status of AIS Certifcations in the United States

• USCG Certifications (Select "Shipborne Automatic Identification System (AIS)")
• FCC Certifications (after clicking on this link, select the "Generic Search Report", then select "AIS" in the Equipment Class field of the search form)

AIS Carriage Requirements >>