5.226   The frequency 156.525 MHz is the international distress, safety and calling frequency for the maritime mobile VHF radiotelephone service using digital selective calling (DSC). The conditions for the use of this frequency and the band 156.4875-156.5625 MHz are contained in Articles 31 and 52, and in Appendix 18.
The frequency 156.8 MHz is the international distress, safety and calling frequency for the maritime mobile VHF radiotelephone service. The conditions for the use of this frequency and the band 156.7625-156.8375 MHz are contained in Article 31 and Appendix 18.

    In the bands 156-156.4875 MHz, 156.5625-156.7625 MHz, 156.8375-157.45 MHz, 160.6-160.975 MHz and 161.475-162.05 MHz, each administration shall give priority to the maritime mobile service on only such frequencies as are assigned to stations of the maritime mobile service by the administration (see Articles 31 and 52, and Appendix 18).
Any use of frequencies in these bands by stations of other services to which they are allocated should be avoided in areas where such use might cause harmful interference to the maritime mobile VHF radiocommunication service.
However, the frequencies 156.8 MHz and 156.525 MHz and the frequency bands in which priority is given to the maritime mobile service may be used for radiocommunications on inland waterways subject to agreement between interested and affected administrations and taking into account current frequency usage and existing agreements. (WRC 07)

US52   In the VHF maritime mobile band (156-162 MHz), the following provisions shall apply:

    (a) Except as provided for below, the use of the bands 161.9625-161.9875 MHz (AIS 1 with center frequency 161.975 MHz) and 162.0125-162.0375 MHz (AIS 2 with center frequency 162.025 MHz) by the maritime mobile and mobile-satellite (Earth-to-space) services is restricted to Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). The use of these bands by the aeronautical mobile (OR) service is restricted to AIS emissions from search and rescue aircraft operations. Frequencies in the AIS 1 band may continue to be used by non-Federal base, fixed, and land mobile stations until March 2, 2024.

    (b) Except as provided for below, the use of the bands 156.7625-156.7875 MHz (AIS 3 with center frequency 156.775 MHz) and 156.8125-156.8375 MHz (AIS 4 with center frequency 156.825 MHz) by the mobile-satellite service (Earth-to-space) is restricted to the reception of long-range AIS broadcast messages from ships (Message 27; see most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.1371). The frequencies 156.775 MHz and 156.825 MHz may continue to be used by non-Federal ship and coast stations for navigation-related port operations or ship movement until August 26, 2019.

    (c) The frequency 156.3 MHz may also be used by aircraft stations for the purpose of search and rescue operations and other safety-related communication.

    (d) Federal stations in the maritime mobile service may also be authorized as follows: (1) Vessel traffic services under the control of the U.S. Coast Guard on a simplex basis by coast and ship stations on the frequencies 156.25, 156.55, 156.6 and 156.7 MHz; (2) Inter-ship use of the frequency 156.3 MHz on a simplex basis; (3) Navigational bridge-to-bridge and navigational communications on a simplex basis by coast and ship stations on the frequencies 156.375 and 156.65 MHz; (4) Port operations use on a simplex basis by coast and ship stations on the frequencies 156.6 and 156.7 MHz; (5) Environmental communications on the frequency 156.75 MHz in accordance with the national plan; and (6) Duplex port operations use of the frequencies 157 MHz for ship stations and 161.6 MHz for coast stations.

NG6  Stations in the public safety radio services authorized as of June 30, 1958, to use frequencies in the band 159.51-161.79 MHz in areas other than Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands may continue such operation, including expansion of existing systems, on the condition that harmful interference will not be caused to stations in the services to which these bands are allocated. In Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands this authority is limited to frequencies in the band 160.05-161.37 MHz. No new public radio service system will be authorized to operate on these frequencies.

NG17  Stations in the land transportation radio services authorized as of May 15, 1958 to operate on the frequency 161.61 MHz may, upon proper application, continue to be authorized for such operation, including expansion of existing systems, on the condition that harmful interference will not be caused to the operation of any authorized station in the maritime mobile service. No new land transportation radio service system will be authorized to operate on 161.61 MHz.