47 Cfr 80.1061

47 CFR 80.1061 (up to date as of 6/05/2025)
Special requirements for 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB stations.

47 CFR 80.1061 (June 5, 2025)

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

Title 47 —Telecommunication
Chapter I —Federal Communications Commission
Subchapter D —Safety and Special Radio Services
Part 80 —Stations in the Maritime Services
Subpart V —Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacons (EPIRB's)
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151-155, 301-609; 3 U.S.T. 3450, 3 U.S.T. 4726, 12 U.S.T. 2377.
Source: 51 FR 31213, Sept. 2, 1986, unless otherwise noted.

§ 80.1061 Special requirements for 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB stations.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph (b) of this section, 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs must meet all
the technical and performance standards contained in RTCM 11000 (incorporated by reference, see §
80.7), and must also comply with the standards specified in § 80.1101(c)(5). Beginning January 17, 2018,
all new applications for certification of 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs must demonstrate compliance with the
requirements of RTCM 11000. 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs that do not meet the requirements of RTCM
11000 shall not be manufactured, imported, or sold in the United States beginning January 17, 2020.
Operation of 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs that do not meet the requirements of RTCM 11000 shall be
prohibited on vessels subject to 47 CFR subparts R, S, or W beginning January 17, 2023. Existing
406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs that do not meet the requirements of RTCM 11000 must be operated as
certified.
(b) The 406.0-406.1 EPIRB must contain as an integral part a “homing” beacon operating only on 121.500
MHz that meets all the requirements described in the RTCM Recommended Standards document
described in paragraph (a) of this section. The 121.500 MHz “homing” beacon must have a continuous
duty cycle that may be interrupted during the transmission of the 406.0-406.1 MHz signal only.
Additionally, at least 30 percent of the total power emitted during any transmission cycle must be
contained within plus or minus 30 Hz of the carrier frequency.
(c) Prior to submitting a certification application for a 406.0-406.1 MHz radiobeacon, the radiobeacon must
be certified by a test facility recognized by one of the COSPAS-SARSAT Partners that the equipment
satisfies the design characteristics associated with the measurement methods incorporated in RTCM
Standard 11000 (incorporated by reference, see § 80.7). Additionally, the radiobeacon must be subjected
to the environmental and operational tests associated with the test procedures described in Appendix A
of RTCM Standard 11000, by a test facility accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard for this purpose. Information
regarding accepted test facilities may be obtained from Commandant (CG-ENG-4), U.S. Coast Guard Stop
7509, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20593-7126, http://cgmix.uscg.mil/EQLabs/
EQLabsSearch.aspx.
(1) After a 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB has been certified by the recognized test facilities the following
information must be submitted in duplicate to typeapproval@uscg.mil or the Commandant (CGENF-4), U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7509, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE., Washington, DC
20593-7509:
(i)

The name of the manufacturer or grantee and model number of the EPIRB;

47 CFR 80.1061(c)(1)(i) (enhanced display)

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47 CFR 80.1061 (up to date as of 6/05/2025)
Special requirements for 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB stations.

47 CFR 80.1061(c)(1)(ii)

(ii) Copies of the certificate and test data obtained from the test facility recognized by a COSPAS/
SARSAT Partner showing that the radiobeacon complies with the COSPAS-SARSAT design
characteristics associated with the measurement methods incorporated in RTCM 11000;
(iii) Copies of the test report and test data obtained from the test facility recognized by the U.S.
Coast Guard showing that the radiobeacon complies with the U.S. Coast Guard environmental
and operational characteristics associated with the measurement methods described in
Appendix A of the RTCM Recommended Standards; and
(iv) Instruction manuals associated with the radiobeacon, description of the test characteristics of
the readiobeacon including assembly drawings, electrical schematics, description of parts list,
specifications of materials and the manufacturer's quality assurance program.
(2) After reviewing the information described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section the U.S. Coast Guard will
issue a letter stating whether the radiobeacon satisfies all RTCM Recommended Standards.
(d) A certification application for a 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB must also contain a copy of the U.S. Coast Guard
letter that states the radiobeacon satisfies all RTCM Recommended Standards, a copy of the technical
test data, and the instruction manual(s).
(e) An identification code, recognized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the
United States Program Manager for the 406.0-406.1 MHz COSPAS/SARSAT satellite system, must be
programmed in each EPIRB unit to establish a unique identification for each EPIRB station. With each
marketable EPIRB unit, the manufacturer or grantee must include a postage pre-paid registration card
printed with the EPIRB identification code addressed to: NOAA/SARSAT Beacon Registration, NSOF, E/
SPO53, 1315 East West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910-9684. The registration card must request the
owner's name, address, telephone number, type of ship, alternate emergency contact and other
information as required by NOAA. The registration card must also contain information regarding the
availability to register the EPIRB at NOAA's online web-based registration database at:
http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov. In addition, the following statement must be included:
“WARNING—failure to register this EPIRB with NOAA before installation could result in a monetary
forfeiture being issued to the owner.”
(f) To enhance protection of life and property it is mandatory that each 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB be registered
with NOAA before installation and that information be kept up-to-date. Therefore, in addition to the
identification plate or label requirements contained in §§ 2.925 and 2.926 of this chapter, each
406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB must be provided on the outside with a clearly discernible permanent plate or
label containing the following statement: “The owner of this 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRB must register the
NOAA identification code contained on this label with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) whose address is: NOAA/SARSAT Beacon Registration, NSOF, E/SPO53, 1315 East
West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910-9684.” Vessel owners shall advise NOAA in writing upon change of
vessel or EPIRB ownership, transfer of EPIRB to another vessel, or any other change in registration
information. NOAA will provide registrants with proof of registration and change of registration postcards.
(g) For 406.0-406.1 MHz EPIRBs whose identification code can be changed after manufacture, the
identification code shown on the plate or label must be easily replaceable using commonly available
tools.
[68 FR 46974, Aug. 7, 2003, as amended at 69 FR 64678, Nov. 8, 2004; 73 FR 4488, Jan. 25, 2008; 76 FR 67616, Nov. 2, 2011; 79 FR
77918, Dec. 29, 2014; 81 FR 90748, Dec. 15, 2016]

47 CFR 80.1061(g) (enhanced display)

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