🔍 Key Concepts

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authority over marine radio equipment in the U.S. • What it means for equipment to be certified/authorized for Part 80 (maritime services) vs. other types of approvals. • Difference between equipment certification/authorization and operator licensing (who may program/use the radio).

💭 Think About

• Which U.S. agency actually regulates and authorizes radio transmitting equipment used on U.S. vessels—USCG, IMO, or FCC? • Is the exam asking about approval of the hardware itself, or who is allowed to operate or program the radio? • Do international bodies like the IMO normally certify specific pieces of equipment, or do they set standards that countries then implement through their own agencies?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which answer choice mentions FCC Part 80 (the U.S. rules for maritime radio services). • Check whether any option incorrectly assigns certification authority to the U.S. Coast Guard or IMO rather than the FCC. • Confirm that operator licensing (who holds a radio license) is different from the equipment authorization requirement for the radio itself.