Sec.  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 the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services document
   entitled RTCM Paper 77–02/SC110–STD, “RTCM Recommended Standards for 406 MHz
   Satellite Emergency Position-Indicating Radiobeacons (EPIRBs),” Version 2.1,
   dated June 20, 2002 (RTCM Recommended Standards). The RTCM Recommended
   Standards  are  incorporated by reference. The Director of the Federal
   Register approves this incorporation by reference in accordance with 5
   U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of the RTCM Recommended Standards
   can be inspected at the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street,
   SW.,  Washington, DC (Reference Information Center) or at the National
   Archives  and  Records  Administration  (NARA). For information on the
   availability  of  this  material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go to:
   http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_loc
   ations.html . The RTCM Recommended Standards can be purchased from the Radio
   Technical Commission for Maritime Services, 1800 N. Kent St., Suite 1060,
   Arlington, VA 22209, www.rtcm.org, e-mail at pubs@rtcm.org. 

   (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 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 described in
   COSPAS–SARSAT Standards C/S T.001, “Specification for COSPAS–SARSAT 406 MHz
   Distress  Beacons,”  Issue  3—Revision 4, October 2002, and C/S T.007,
   “COSPAS–SARSAT  406 MHz Distress Beacon Type Approval Standard,” Issue
   3—Revision 9, October 2002. Additionally, the radiobeacon must be subjected
   to  the  environmental  and operational tests associated with the test
   procedures described in Appendix A of RTCM Standard 11000.2 (RTCM Paper
   77–2002/SC110–STD,  Version  2.1)  for  406  MHz  Satellite  Emergency
   Position-Indicating Radiobeacons (EPIRBs), June 20, 2002, by a test facility
   accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard for this purpose. Information regarding
   accepted test facilities may be obtained from Commandant (G–MSE), U.S. Coast
   Guard,    2100    2nd    St.,    SW.,   Washington,   DC   20593–0001,
   http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/mse/lablist/lab161011.pdf. The COSPAS–SARSAT
   Standards T.001 and T.007, and the RTCM Standard 11000.2 are incorporated by
   reference. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation
   by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of
   the COSPAS–SARSAT Standards can be inspected at the Federal Communications
   Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC (Reference Information
   Center) or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street,
   NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC. The COSPAS–SARSAT Standards may be obtained
   from COSPAS–SARSAT Secretariat, c/o Inmarsat, 99 City Road, London EC1Y 1AX,
   United Kingdom, Telephone: +44 20–7728 1391, Facsimile: +44 20–7728 1170;
   www.cospas-sarsat.org . The RTCM Recommended Standards can be purchased from
   the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services, 1800 N. Kent St.,
   Suite  1060,  Arlington,  VA  22209,  http://www.rtcm.org,  e-mail  at
   pubs@rtcm.org. 

   (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 the
   Commandant (G-MSE), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 2nd Street SW, Washington, DC
   20593–0001:

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

   (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 described in the COSPAS–SARSAT Standards C/S T.001,
   “Specification for COSPAS–SARSAT 406 MHz Distress Beacons,” Issue 3—Revision
   4, October 2002, and T.007, “COSPAS–SARSAT 406 MHz Distress Beacon Type
   Approval  Standard,”  Issue 3—Revision 9, October 2002, and RTCM Paper
   77–2002/SC110–STD, “RTCM Standard 11000.2 for 406 MHz Satellite Emergency
   Position-Indicating Radiobeacons (EPIRBs),” Version 2.1, June 20, 2002. The
   COSPAS–SARSAT Standards C/S T.001 and T.007, and the RTCM Standard 11000.2
   are incorporated by reference. The Director of the Federal Register approves
   this incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR
   part 51. Copies of the COSPAS–SARSAT Standards can be inspected at the
   Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC
   (Reference Information Center) or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800
   North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC. The COSPAS–SARSAT
   Standards may be obtained from COSPAS–SARSAT Secretariat, c/o Inmarsat, 99
   City Road, London EC1Y 1AX, United Kingdom, Telephone: +44 20–7728 1391,
   Facsimile: +44 20–7728 1170; www.cospas-sarsat.org . The RTCM Recommended
   Standards can be purchased from the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime
   Services,   1800  N.  Kent  St.,  Suite  1060,  Arlington,  VA  22209,
   http://www.rtcm.org, e-mail at pubs@rtcm.org; 

   (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 radiobeacon 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 submitted to the
   Commission 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, issued 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, E/SP3, Federal Building 4,
   Room 3320, 5200 Auth Road, Suitland, MD 20746–4304. 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  Sec.  Sec. 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, NOAA/SARSAT Beacon
   Registration,  E/SP3,  Federal  Building 4, Room 3320, 5200 Auth Road,
   Suitland, MD 20746–4304.” 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]