RES205 – 271 – considering further a) that some administrations have initially developed and implemented an operational low-altitude, near-polar orbiting satellite system (Cospas-Sarsat) operating in the frequency band 406-406.1 MHz to provide alerting and to aid in the locating of distress incidents; b) that thousands of human lives have been saved through the use of spaceborne distress-beacon detection instruments, initially on 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz, and subsequently in the frequency band 406-406.1 MHz; c) that the 406 MHz distress transmissions are relayed through many instruments mounted on geostationary, low-Earth and medium-Earth satellite orbits; d) that the digital processing of these emissions provides accurate, timely and reliable distress alert and location data to help search and rescue authorities assist persons in distress; e) that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has decided that satellite EPIRBs operating in the Cospas-Sarsat system form part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS); f) that observations of the use of frequencies in the frequency band 406-406.1 MHz show that they are being used by stations other than those authorized by No. 5.266, and that these stations have caused harmful interference to the MSS, and particularly to the reception of satellite EPIRB signals by the Cospas-Sarsat system; g) that the results of spectrum monitoring and ITU-R studies contained in Report ITU-R M.2359 indicate that emissions from stations operating in the frequency bands 405.9-406 MHz and 406.1-406.2 MHz have the potential to severely impact the performance of MSS systems in the frequency band 406-406.1 MHz; h) that the results of ITU-R studies indicate that increased deployment of land mobile systems operating in the vicinity of the 406-406.1 MHz frequency band may degrade the receiver performance of mobile-satellite systems operating in the frequency band 406-406.1 MHz; i) that the maximum permissible level of interference to the MSS in the 406-406.1 MHz frequency band may be exceeded due to frequency drift of the radiosondes operating above 405 MHz, recognizing a) that it is essential for the protection of human life and property that frequency bands allocated exclusively to a service for distress and safety purposes be kept free from harmful interference; b) that the deployment of mobile systems near the frequency band 406-406.1 MHz is ongoing and more such systems are envisaged; c) that this increased deployment raises significant concerns on the reliability of future distress and safety communications due to the increases in the noise level measured in many areas of the world for the frequency band 406-406.1 MHz;