Beginning January 1, 2007, both 121.5 and 243 MHz Emergency Position
Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) are prohibited from use in both
commercial and recreational watercraft.  Boaters wishing to have an
emergency rescue beacon aboard their vessel must have a digital 406 MHz model.

The January 1, 2007, date to stop using 121.5 MHz EPIRBs is in preparation
for February 1, 2009, when satellite processing of distress signals from all
121.5/243 MHz beacons will terminate.  Following this termination date,
only the 406 MHz beacons will be detected by the International Cospas-Sarsat
Satellite System which provides distress alert and location data for search and
rescue operations around the world.

The regulation applies to all Class A, B, and S 121.5/243 MHz EPIRBs.  It
does not affect 121.5/243 MHz man overboard devices which are designed to
work directly with a base alerting unit only and not with the satellite system.

This change, in large part, was brought about by the unreliability of the
121.5/243 MHz beacons in an emergency situation.  Data reveals that
with a 121.5 MHz beacon, only one alert out of every 50 is a genuine distress
situation.  This has a significant effect on expending the limited resources
of search and rescue personnel and platforms.  With 406 MHz beacons,
false alerts have been reduced significantly, and, when properly registered,
can usually be resolved with a telephone call to the beacon owner.
Consequently, real alerts can receive the attention they deserve.