Just saw this in my inbox:

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news..._202760-1.html


The Federal Communications Commission took the general aviation world
by surprise when it said in a recent report it will prohibit the sale
or use of 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitters, effective in
August. The Aircraft Electronics Association said it just learned of
the new rule today, and has begun working with the FAA, FCC and others
to allow for timely compliance without grounding thousands of general
aviation aircraft. The 121.5 ELTs are allowed under FAA rules. The FCC
said its rules have been amended to "prohibit further certification,
manufacture, importation, sale or use of 121.5 MHz ELTs." The FCC says
that if the 121.5 units are no longer available, aircraft owners and
operators will "migrate" to the newer 406.0-406.1 MHz ELTs, which are
monitored by satellite, while the 121.5 frequency is not. "Were we to
permit continued marketing and use of 121.5 MHz ELTs ... it would
engender the risk that aircraft owners and operators would mistakenly
rely on those ELTs for the relay of distress alerts," the FCC says.
AOPA said today it is opposed to the rule change.

"The FCC is making a regulatory change that would impose an extra cost
on GA operators, without properly communicating with the industry or
understanding the implications of its action," said AOPA Vice
President of Regulatory Affairs Rob Hackman. "There is no FAA
requirement to replace 121.5 MHz units with 406 MHz technology. When
two government agencies don't coordinate, GA can suffer." The AEA said
dealers should refrain from selling any new 121.5 MHz ELTs "until
further understanding of this new prohibition can be understood and a
realistic timeline for transition can be established."