Register Your SOS Beacon: NOAA Seeks Feedback on Lifesaving Tech
Published Date: 7/31/2025
Notice
Summary
If you own a 406 MHz emergency beacon, you need to register it with NOAA so rescuers can find you fast in an emergency. NOAA is updating and extending this registration process, which affects over 370,000 people and takes about 15 minutes to complete. They’re asking for public feedback for 30 more days to keep things smooth and save money by avoiding false alarms.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory 406 MHz Beacon Registration
If you own a 406.000–406.100 MHz emergency beacon, you are required to register it with NOAA before installation under FCC rules (47 CFR 80.1061, 87.199, 95.1402). NOAA estimates 376,063 respondents, the form takes about 15 minutes to complete on average, and total annual burden is 94,016 hours. The registration data is used to help rescuers find you and to suppress costly false alarms.
PLB Form Adds Boat/Aircraft Location Fields
NOAA updated the Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) registration form to collect extra location details when you indicate VEHICLE TYPE as 'Boat' (Vessel Name; Federal/State Registration No.; Home Port Marina/Dock; City and State) or 'Aircraft' (Airport Code; City and State). NOAA says these fields help search-and-rescue forces identify false alerts and contact the marina or airport for owner information.
EPIRB/SSAS Form and General Updates
NOAA revised EPIRB and SSAS registration forms to add separate lines for Inmarsat number and Iridium number, and updated all four forms (EPIRB, ELT, PLB, SSAS) to streamline wording, update instructions, and add the beacon registration email address. These changes are intended to improve the accuracy and clarity of registration data for rescue operations.
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