# § 720. VHF communications services
**(a)** The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may authorize a person providing commercial VHF communications services to place commercial VHF communications equipment on real property under the administrative control of the Coast Guard (including towers) subject to any terms agreed to by the parties. The Secretary and that commercial VHF communications service provider also may enter into an agreement providing for VHF communications services to the Coast Guard (including digital selective calling and radio direction finding services) at a discounted rate or price based on providing such access to real property under the administrative control of the Coast Guard.
**(b)** Commercial VHF communication equipment placed on real property under the administrative control of the Coast Guard under this section shall not interfere in any manner with any current or future Coast Guard communication equipment.
**(c)** Nothing in this section shall affect the rights or obligations of the United States under section 704(c) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. 332 note) with respect to the availability of property or under section 359(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 357(d)) with respect to charges for transmission of distress messages.
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**Source Credit**: (Added and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXV [LXXXV], § 8501(a)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4745.)
## Editorial Notes
### References in Text
Section 704(c) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, referred to in subsec. (c), is , which is set out as a note under , Telecommunications.
### Codification
, , , formerly set out as a note under , was redesignated as this section, transferred to appear after , and amended so that the enumerator, section catchline, typeface, and typestyle conformed to those appearing in other sections of this title by .
### Prior Provisions
A prior section 720 was renumbered .
For redesignation of prior sections 721 to 894 not listed below as having been previously repealed or omitted, see Table Showing Redesignations Made by Title I of preceding .
A prior section 751, acts , ; , , related to the purpose and administration of the Reserve, prior to repeal by , §§ 802, 803, , effective on the first day of the sixth month following July 1952.
A prior section 751a, added , , provided for the organization of the Coast Guard Reserve and was omitted in the general revision of former chapter 21 of this title by , , .
A prior section 752, , , related to eligibility, prior to repeal by , §§ 802, 803, , effective on the first day of the sixth month following July 1952.
A prior section 752a, added , , related to the authorized strength of the Coast Guard Reserve and was omitted in the general revision of former chapter 21 of this title by , , .
A prior section 753, , , related to term of appointment, duty, and training, prior to repeal by , §§ 802, 803, , effective on the first day of the sixth month following July 1952.
Prior sections 753a to 757 were omitted in the general revision of former chapter 21 of this title by , , .
Section 753a, added , , related to the Coast Guard Reserve Policy Board.
Section 754, , , related to grades and ratings and military authority.
Section 755, acts , ; , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , , related to benefits.
Section 756, , , related to temporary membership.
Section 757, , , related to exemption from military training and the draft.
A prior section 758, , , related to discipline, prior to repeal by , . See the Uniform Code of Military Justice, section 801 et seq. of Title 10, Armed Forces.
A prior section 758a, added , ; amended , , , related to reserve student aviation pilots and was omitted in the general revision of former chapter 21 of this title by , , .
A prior section 759, , , related to uniform allowance, prior to repeal by , §§ 802, 803, , effective on the first day of the sixth month following July 1952.
Prior sections 759a to 761 were omitted in the general revision of former chapter 21 of this title by , , .
Section 759a, added , ; amended , , , related to wartime appointments and promotions.
Section 760, acts , ; , ; , ; , , , related to disability or death benefits for temporary members.
Section 761, , , related to members of the Reserve engaging in civil occupations.
A prior section 762, acts , ; , ; , , , related to Women’s Reserve, prior to repeal by , , .
Prior sections 763 to 765 and 770 to 798 were omitted in the general revision of former chapter 21 of this title by , , .
Section 763, added , , , related to a certificate of honorable service of temporary members.
Section 764, added , , , related to active duty for emergency augmentation of regular forces.
Section 765, added , , , related to enlistment of members engaged in schooling.
Section 770, added , , ; amended , , , defined terms.
Section 771, added , , ; amended , , ; , , , related to applicability of sections 770 to 798 of this title.
Section 772, added , , ; amended , , ; , , , related to authorized number of officers.
Section 773, added , , ; amended , , , related to constructive credit upon initial appointment.
Section 774, added , , ; amended , , , related to eligibility for promotion and retention in active status.
Section 775, added , , ; amended , , ; , , , related to appointment of selection boards.
Section 776, added , § 5(2), , , related to Reserve officer’s grade on entry upon active duty.
Section 777, added , , , related to recommendations for promotion of officers previously removed from active status.
Section 778, added , , , related to suspension of sections 770 to 798 of this title in war or national emergency.
Section 779, added , , , related to sea or foreign service requirements.
Section 780, added , , ; amended , , ; , (6), , , related to recommendations of selection boards.
Section 781, added , , ; amended , , , related to precedence in grades of officers.
Section 782, added , , ; amended , , , related to running mates.
Section 783, added , , , related to promotion zones.
Section 784, added , , ; amended , , , related to date of rank upon promotion.
Section 785, added , , , related to limitations on consideration for promotion.
Section 786, added , , , related to qualifications for promotion.
Section 787, added , , ; amended , , ; , , , related to failure of selection and elimination.
Section 787a, added , , , provided for elimination from active status of excessive numbers to provide a flow of promotions.
Section 788, added , , , related to effect of removal by President or failure of consent of Senate.
Section 789, added , , , related to maximum ages for retention in active status.
Section 790, added , , ; amended , , , related to types of promotion.
Section 791, added , , ; amended , , ; , , , related to promotion of officers on active duty.
Section 792, added , , , related to appointment of former Navy and Coast Guard officers.
Section 793, added , , , related to grades upon relief of retired officers.
Section 794, added , , , authorized Secretary to promulgate regulations.
Section 795, added , , , related to effect of sections 770 to 798 of this title on retirements and retired pay.
Section 796, added , , ; amended , , , related to failure of selection for promotion.
Section 797, added , , , related to acceptance of promotion and oath of office.
Section 798, added , , , related to maximum service in grade of rear admiral.
### Amendments
2021— redesignated as this section and made technical changes to conform this section to other sections of this title. See Codification note above.