🔍 Key Concepts
• Bridge-to-bridge radiotelephone is a radio communication service used for navigation safety between ships and bridges or VTS (Vessel Traffic Service).
• Frequencies and technical standards for radio use in the U.S. are generally set by a specific federal agency, not an operational maritime agency.
• The U.S. Coast Guard enforces many marine safety rules, but does not usually allocate radio spectrum or assign radio frequencies.
💭 Think About
• Ask yourself: Which agency is primarily responsible for regulating all civilian radio communications and assigning radio frequencies in the United States?
• Which of these choices typically writes detailed rules about radio channels, power limits, and frequency allocations, across many services (broadcast, marine, aviation, etc.)?
• Think about the difference between the agency that uses/enforces marine radios vs. the agency that allocates and licenses radio frequencies.
✅ Before You Answer
• Identify which option is the nation’s main civil radio regulator (covers TV, radio, cell phones, marine radios, etc.).
• Distinguish between operational maritime safety enforcement (search and rescue, inspections, Navigation Rules) and technical radio regulation (frequencies, licensing).
• Before picking, ask: Which agency actually issues radio licenses and technical rules in the Code of Federal Regulations for communication services?