http://www.equipped.org/plb_legal.htm

: The Federal Communications Commission has finally approved the sale
: of 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) in the U.S. Both the U.S. Air
: Force and the FCC deserve credit for the dubious distinction of holding up
: PLB approval for the past few years, and the Federal Aviation
: Administration must also share some of the blame, but this inertia has at
: last been overcome. Come July 1, 2003, it will be legal to purchase a 406
: MHz PLB in the U.S., a
: proven lifesaving device that's been available elsewhere in the world for
: many years.

: Here is a link to more info: http://www.equipped.org/plb_legal.ht