Editing Emergency position-indicating radiobeacon (section)

==Search-and-rescue response==
Emergency beacons operating on 406&nbsp;MHz transmit a unique 15-, 22-, or 30-character serial number called a hex code. When the beacon is purchased, the hex code should be registered with the relevant national (or international) authority. After one of the mission control centers has detected the signal, this registration information is passed to the rescue coordination center, which then provides the appropriate search-and-rescue agency with crucial information, such as:
* phone numbers to call
* a description of the vessel, aircraft, vehicle, or person (in the case of a PLB)
* the home port of a vessel or aircraft
* any additional information that may be useful to SAR agencies

Registration information allows SAR agencies to start a rescue more quickly. For example, if a shipboard telephone number listed in the registration is unreachable, it could be assumed that a real distress event is occurring. Conversely, the information provides a quick and easy way for the SAR agencies to check and eliminate false alarms (potentially sparing the beacon's owner from significant false alert fines).

An unregistered 406-MHz beacon still carries some information, such as the manufacturer and serial number of the beacon, and in some cases, an [[MMSI]] or aircraft [[Aircraft registration|tail number]]/[[ICAO 24-bit address]]. Despite the clear benefits of registration, an unregistered 406-MHz beacon is very substantially better than a 121.5-MHz beacon, because the hex code received from a 406-MHz beacon confirms the authenticity of the signal as a real distress signal.

Beacons operating on 121.5&nbsp;MHz and 243.0&nbsp;MHz only simply transmit an anonymous siren tone, thus carry no position or identity information to SAR agencies. Such beacons now rely solely on the terrestrial or aeronautical monitoring of the frequency.

===Responsible agencies===
RCCs are responsible for a geographic area, known as a "search-and-rescue region of responsibility" (SRR). SRRs are designated by the [[International Maritime Organization]] and the [[International Civil Aviation Organization]]. RCCs are operated unilaterally by personnel of a single military service (e.g. an air force, or a navy) or a single civilian service (e.g. a national police force, or a coast guard).

==== Americas ====
These international search-and-rescue points of contact<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://international-maritime-rescue.org/196-lifeline-february-2017-english/2386-sar-points-of-contact|title=SAR Points of Contact|access-date=2018-02-08|archive-date=2018-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063655/https://international-maritime-rescue.org/196-lifeline-february-2017-english/2386-sar-points-of-contact|url-status=dead}}</ref> receive SAR alerts from the USMCC.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/RccMsgsVersion3_06.pdf|title=USMCC 406 MHz Alert and Support Messages for the LEOSAR/GEOSAR/MEOSAR (LGM) System|access-date=2018-02-08|archive-date=2017-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929154559/http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/RccMsgsVersion3_06.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!SPOC
!SRR Name
!Geographic Coverage
!SAR Agency
|-
|Argentina - Servicio de Alerta de Socorro Satelital (SASS) 
|ARMCC
|
|
|-
|Bermuda [[Maritime Operations Centre]]
|BERMUDASP
|
|
|-
|Central American Corporation for Navigation Area Services
|COCESNA
|
|
|-
|Colombia
|COLMSP
|
|
|-
|Dominican Republic
|DOMREPSP
|
|
|-
|Ecuador
|ECSP
|
|
|-
|Guyana
|GUYSP
|
|
|-
|Mexico
|MEXISP
|
|
|-
|Mexico Telecommunications
|MEXTEL
|
|
|-
|Netherlands Antilles
|NANTSP
|
|
|-
|Panama
|PANSP
|
|
|-
|Trinidad and Tobago
|TTSP
|
|
|-
|Venezuela
|VZMCC
|
|
|-
|Bolivia
|BOLSP
|
|
|-
|Chile RCC
|ChileRCC
|
|
|-
|Paraguay
|PARSP
|
|
|-
|Uruguay
|URSP
|
|
|}

===== United States =====
The U.S. NOAA operates the U.S. Mission Control Center (USMCC) in Suitland, Maryland.
It distributes beacon signal reports to one or more of these RCCs:<ref name=":3" />
{| class="wikitable"
|+United States SPOCs
!RCC
!SRR name
!Geographic coverage
!SAR agency
!Phone number
|-
|[[United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center|Air Force Rescue Coordination Center]]
|AFRCC
|Land-based emergency signals in the lower 48 states
|United States Air Force Auxiliary [[Civil Air Patrol]]
|
|-
|[[Alaska Air National Guard]] operates the [[Alaska Rescue Coordination Center]]
|AKRCC
|Alaskan inland areas
|On-shore beacons are investigated by local search-and-rescue services in Alaska.
|
|-
|U.S. Coast Guard<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Response-Policy-CG-5R/Office-of-Incident-Management-Preparedness-CG-5RI/US-Coast-Guard-Office-of-Search-and-Rescue-CG-SAR/RCC-Numbers/|title=U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs)}}</ref>
|
| colspan="2" |The [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] investigates offshore beacons and rescues victims.
|
|-
|Coast Guard Atlantic Area
|LANTAREA
|
|
|757-398-6700
|-
|District 1: Boston, MA
(RCC Boston)
|CGD01
|
|
|'''(617)223-8555'''
|-
|District 5: Portsmouth, VA
(RCC Norfolk)
|CGD05
|
|
|'''(757)398-6231'''
|-
|District 7: Miami, FL
(RCC Miami)
|CGD07
|
|
|'''(305)415-6800'''
|-
|District 8: New Orleans, LA
(RCC New Orleans)
|CGD08
|
|
|'''(504)589-6225'''
|-
|District 9: Cleveland, OH
(RCC Cleveland)
|CGD09
|
|
|'''(216)902-6117'''
|-
|District 11: Alameda, CA
(RCC Alameda and

Pacific SAR Coordinator)
|PACAREA
|
|
|'''(510)437-3701'''
|-
|District 13: Seattle, WA
(RCC Seattle)
|CGD13
|
|
|'''(206)220-7001'''
|-
|District 14: Honolulu, HI
(RCC Honolulu; operated as JRCC with DOD)
|CGD14
|
|
|'''(808)535-3333'''
|-
|District 17: Juneau, AK
(RCC Juneau)
|CGD17
|
|
|'''(907)463-2000'''
|-
|U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan (RSC)
(sub-sector of RCC Miami)
|SANJN
|
|
|'''(787)289-2042'''
|-
|U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam (RSC) (coordinates SAR under RCC Honolulu)
|MARSEC
|
|
|'''(671)355-4824'''
|}

The US Coast Guard web page for EPIRBs states: "You may be fined for false activation of an unregistered EPIRB. The US Coast Guard routinely refers cases involving the nondistress activation of an EPIRB (e.g., as a hoax, through gross negligence, carelessness, or improper storage and handling) to the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC will prosecute cases based upon evidence provided by the Coast Guard, and will issue warning letters or notices of apparent liability for fines up to $10,000."<ref name="autogenerated1" />

===== Canada =====
The Canadian Mission Control Centre receives and distributes distress alerts.

In Canada, the [[Canadian Coast Guard]] and [[Canadian Forces Search and Rescue]] ([[Royal Canadian Air Force]] and [[Royal Canadian Navy]]) are partners in Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centres; CCG operates Maritime Rescue Subcentres to offload work from JRCC.
{| class="wikitable"
!RCC
!SRR Name
!Geographic Coverage
!SAR Agency
|-
|[[Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Halifax]]
|HALIFAX
|Halifax Search and Rescue Region
|
|-
|[[Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre Quebec]]
|QuebecCity
|
* the [[St. Lawrence River]] within the province of Quebec
* the northern and western waters of the [[Gulf of St. Lawrence]] within the province of Quebec
* the navigable estuary portion of the [[Saguenay River]]
* the [[Richelieu River]] within the province of Quebec
* the southern portion of the [[Ottawa River]] downstream from the [[Carillon Generating Station]]
|
|-
|[[Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Trenton]]
|TRENTON
|Trenton Search and Rescue Region.

AIRCOM also operates the Canadian Mission Control Centre (CMCC) from JRCC Trenton
|
|-
|[[Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria]]
|VICTORIA
|Victoria Search and Rescue Region
|
|-
|[[Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre St. John's]] 
|
|waters surrounding the province of [[Newfoundland and Labrador]] 
|
|}

==== Europe ====
===== United Kingdom =====
The United Kingdom, the [[Department for Transport]], [[Maritime and Coastguard Agency]] operates the Mission Control Centre (UKMCC), which receives and distributes distress alerts.

In the UK, the Distress and Diversion Cell of the Royal Air Force provides continuous monitoring of 121.5&nbsp;MHz and 243.0&nbsp;MHz, with autotriangulation from a network of terrestrial receivers on both frequencies.

==== Russia ====
In Russia, operations are supported by the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Morsvyazsputnik.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://cospas-sarsat.int/en/about-us/participants|title=Participants}}</ref>

==== Asia ====
In Hong Kong, operations are supported by the Hong Kong Marine Department's<ref name=":1" /> [[Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre]] (MRCC)

In India, operations are supported by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)<ref name=":1" /> and by the [[Indian Coast Guard]]'s [[Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Mumbai]] (MRCC)

In China, operations are supported by the Maritime Safety Administration, Bureau of Harbour Superintendency.<ref name=":1" />

In Japan, operations are supported by the Japan Coast Guard<ref name=":1" />

In Vietnam, operations are supported by the Ministry of Transport, Vietnam Maritime Administration (VINAMARINE).<ref name=":1" />

In Singapore, operations are supported by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.<ref name=":1" />

In the Republic of Korea, operations are supported by the Korea Coast Guard.<ref name=":1" />

In Indonesia, operations are supported by the National SAR Agency of Indonesia (BASARNAS).<ref name=":1" />

In Taiwan, operations are supported by the International Telecommunication Development Company (ITDC)<ref name=":1" />