AUTHORIZATION OF USE OF AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS DEVICES TO MARK FISHING EQUIPMENT.

SEC. 8416. [47 U.S.C. 303 note] AUTHORIZATION OF USE OF AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS DEVICES TO MARK FISHING EQUIPMENT. (a) Definitions.—In this section— (1) the term “Assistant Secretary” means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Administrator; (2) the term “Automatic Identification System” has the meaning given the term in section 164.46(a) of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation; (3) the term “Automatic Identification System device” means a covered device that operates in radio frequencies assigned for Automatic Identification System stations; (4) the term “Commission” means the Federal Communications Commission; and (5) the term “covered device” means a device used to mark fishing equipment. (b) Rulemaking Required.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary, and in consultation with the Commandant and the Secretary of State, shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider whether to authorize covered devices to operate in radio frequencies assigned for Automatic Identification System stations. (c) Considerations.—In conducting the rulemaking under subsection (b), the Commission shall consider whether imposing requirements with respect to the manner in which Automatic Identification System devices are deployed and used would enable the authorization of covered devices to operate in radio frequencies assigned for Automatic Identification System stations consistent with the core purpose of the Automatic Identification System to prevent maritime accidents.