r. 32 - Sunday, June 23, 1991 - North Shore News Radio misuse causing concern THE FEDERAL. government is worried over a dramatic increase in the misuse of the mobile VHF radio frequency band and in the number of unlicensed murine VHF radio telephones that are being in- stailed on board vessels. Wally RKozar, executive director of the B.C.-Yukon region of Communications Canada, said that when operators licence their tadios they are offered an oppor- tunity to receive instructions on correct operating procedure and that if users are not licenced, they do not receive this training. “With the growing number of unlicenced radio operators, the condition of marine VHF service has deteriorated to the point where its primary function, the safety of life and property at sea, has been seriously compromised,”’ said Kozar. “Perhaps the most critical problem is the abuse of Channel 16, the international emergency and calling channel.”’ As a result, said Kozar, legiti- mate distress calls have gone unheard because of interference on Channel 16. Some of the problems cited are transmitting without making sure the channel is clear of distress or other traffic; using Channel 16 for conversation rather than switching to a working channel; allowing children to play with the radio; excessive radio checks; using the wrong channel for the wrong pur- pose and incorrectly using the emergency ‘*mayday”’ call. Communications Canada has now launced 2 multi-year public awareness campaign to inform and educate marine radio users about the need for good operating procedures to help create a safer boating environment. The department has experts availabie to assist in certifying op- erators and licensing radio equip- ment. When seeking certification, boaters are taught to operate a marine radio and receive general knowledge of regulations relating to international radio communica- tions and human safety. There is no charge for the cer- tification service. All on-board radio equipment also requires a licence issued by the department. A radio licence specifies a vessel’s call sign. fre- quencies to be used for trans- mitting or receiving and = any special conditions under which the station may be operated. But pleasure boaters are not the only ones who are misusing the VHF frequency. A problem has developed with some commercial fishermen installing unlicenced radio transmitters that operate outside the authorized maritime mobile frequencies while some members of the trucking industry have been using the VHF channel for conversation. For more information of train- ing courses, contact Communica- tions Canada’s Vancouver office at 666-5529. THIS iS ONE TEST YOU WON'T WANT TO BLOW pee ee oe, qj any police officer, any time, anywhere in the province. ‘A roadside screeiting device G could be in the hands of PHOTO BY JOE JOHNSTON Recently, School District #44 honored its top graduates at a special luncheon. Present were representatives from the School District’s high schools plus the community corporate sponsors of the luncheon. Argyle Marianne Eun Chang Karen Derkach Eileen Colotia Bruce Adai: Brian G. Cullen Lisa Deurnova Allison Foltis Shani Boadle Janine Duprey Mark Follett Concetta Fuscaldo Neil Boattle Dominique R. Fulton Kerrilyn Fraser Devan Gee Suzette Buchanan Peter Herman Tania Garcia Nadia Geffroy Jennifer Eastwood lan A. Herrin Sarah Gardiner Amir Gholami James Humphrey Andrea Hodges Alison Grigg Shannon Lashley Miohiko Kariya Melissa A. Hudson Clayton Jones Kim Reid Jason Kennett Si-Nae Joung Rahul Khosla Reza Roboubi Marcel Loretan Lamla Y. Kalfane Karsten Koch Gillian Silvertand Jenyfer Neumann Haleh Kangari David Lee Keita Suzuki Aaron Orlanda Nooshin Kiani Bodo Littman Jennifer Tyldesley Karen Parkes Lisa A. Krieger Kelly Mitchell Pamela Warner David Wonghen WINDSOR Christine Allan Katharine Parslow Mako Sawaguchi Tahnee Wang Juliet Kwong Michael C. Lowe Tawnya M. McLean Nathan Pinfield Brent Schieman Ryan Schieman Tanya Schneider Barbara L. Parker Rebecca Wild * Marsha Anderson Danny Stringer Carolyn M. Pena SEYCOVE Kristie Astrom Joshua Tebbutt Derek C. Pink Charlie Cho Lee Bensted Carol Tauchida Bob Rhee Corinne Dahlo Catherine Black Kristina Williams Susan Roop Shetley Gornall Jennifer Butcher Brenda Willington Ali Sadeghi Tara Langley Robert Deane Michael Wong Bobby Shayegan Gardon Morrison Soo Ji Lee Alexandra Zagorsky Navida M. Shivji Neil Sorochan Amy Lennon Noreen Lalani Valerie M. Wood Shawn Sutherland Casey Martell Sean D. Wurz Loraine Tien Paul Miyagawa Joshua Ostrowalker CARSON Lori L. Zarutsky Carly Tjorhom Ryoko Abe Daphne Tobin Kristin Patten James W. Armstrong HANDSWORTH Sarah Yeo Heidi Rootes Richard S. Berg Ziba Bozorgzadeh Gillian Walker Tania Biali David Bridger SUTHERLAND Michelle Wee Linda J. Campbell Jennifer Calder Joanna Cheston Bonita Wong CORPORATE SPONSORS A&B Sound Pepsi Cola Canada McDonalds Capilano College Canadian Oxy Industrial Chemical Ltd. McKim Printing 1988 Ltd. Premier School Agendas Dilcon Constructors Ltd. LC.B.C. McKay System Corporation/Byte Computers North Shore Continuing Education Team Skyline/Skyline Sports Canada Safeway Ltd. Bank of Montreal North Shore Taxi North Vancouver School Board Dino's Place Lynn Valley Lions Club North Shore Credit Union Bell Realty North Shore News North Shore Driving Schoo} Jostens Canada