History and Status of the U.S. Marine Radiobeacon System

摘要

The U.S. Marine Radiobeacon System first became operational with three transmitter sites and a handful of users in 1921 under the jurisdiction of the Lighthouse Service of the Department of Commerce. The system grew rapidly from the time of its inception. By 1939, when the Coast Guard assumed system responsibility, the number of transmitter sites had grown to 141 with an estimated 4,000 users. By January of 1982, the system consisted of 198 transmitter sites with an estimated 423,000 users, most of whom were pleasure boat owners. This report has been prepared to chronicle the development of this system and to report its current status and near term future prospects.