SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CRHSC Cuyahoga River Harbor Safety Committee

DHS Department of Homeland Security

FCC Federal Communications Commission

FR Federal Register

GBCA Greater Cleveland Boating Association

IGLD85 International Great Lakes Datum of 1985

LWD Low Water Datum based on IGLD85

MHz Megahertz or one million cycles per second

NM Nautical Mile

OMB Office of Management and Budget

PAWSA Ports and Waterway Safety Assessment

NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

§ Section

U.S.C. United States Code

VHF-FM Very High Frequency with Frequency Modulation

II. Background and Purpose

The Cuyahoga River is considered one of the major industrial centers in the Great Lakes and handles several commodities for domestic and international commerce, including steel, heavy machinery, dry and liquid bulk products, and salt. Thirteen movable and nine fixed bridges cross the Cuyahoga River. Heavy recreational traffic is concentrated in the Old River and on the Cuyahoga River up to mile 2.42 during the summer. Mariners in the CRHSC have raised concerns to the Great Lakes Coast Guard District regarding the availability of VHF-FM Marine Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) to vessels in distress and those trying to assist those vessels considering the frequent use of Channel 16 for bridge opening requests.

Thus, we are seeking comments on changing the watch frequency of the movable bridges over the Cuyahoga River from VHF-FM Marine Channel 16 to VHF-FM Marine Channel 9 (156.450 MHz), the commercial and non-commercial calling channel. Currently, we believe Channel 9 (156.450 MHz) is preferable to several other proposed VHF-FM Marine Channels. We also invite comments on the feasibility of the use of Channel 9 or other alternative channels for movable bridge calling.

All of the movable bridges over the Cuyahoga River have been confirmed to be properly licensed FCC Commercial Radio Stations authorized to operate on a limited number of VHF-FM Marine Channels. Channel 9 (156.450 MHz) is already a designated in 47 CFR part 80 as an alternative hailing frequency to channel 16 (156.800 MHz) and all the movable bridges over the Cuyahoga River can and are licensed to operate on Channel 9 without any modifications or costs to the respective owners of the bridges.

Furthermore, there would be no expense to most vessels. Most recreational vessels do not require an FCC License and most modern VHF-FM Marine radios designed for recreational vessels already have the capability of transmitting on VHF-FM Marine Channel 9 (156.450 MHz). Commercial vessels are required to maintain a guard on VHF-FM Marine Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) while underway and typically have a second radio already installed or have a handheld radio available for use on VHF-FM Marine Channel 9 (156.450 MHz).

We intend that other than the frequency used to contact the movable bridges over the Cuyahoga River, all other regulations will remain in effect.

III. Information Requested

We request any and all stations within 80 miles of the Cuyahoga River that may be affected by the use of alternative radio channels to request bridge openings on the Cuyahoga River to report their concerns including their contact information and radio license identification.

IV. Public Participation and Request for Comments

We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking and will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation.

Submitting comments. We encourage you to submit comments at https://www.regulations.gov. To do so, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-2025-1063 in the search box and click “Search.” Next, look for this document in the Search Results column, and click on it. Then click on the Comment option. If your material cannot be submitted using https://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate instructions.

Viewing material in docket. To view documents mentioned in this notice as being available in the docket, find the docket as described in the previous paragraph, and then select “Supporting & Related Material” in the Document Type column. Public comments will also be placed in our online docket and can be viewed by following instructions on the https://www.regulations.gov Frequently Asked Questions web page. Also, if you go to the online docket and sign up for email alerts through the “Subscribe” option, you will be notified when comments/updates are posted, or a final rule is published.

Personal information. We accept anonymous comments. Comments we post to https://www.regulations.gov will include any personal information you ( printed page 47162) have provided. For more about privacy and submissions in response to this document, see DHS's eRulemaking System of Records notice (85 FR 14226, March 11, 2020).

This document is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 33 U.S.C. 499.

91 FR 47161