Television emits international distress signal

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/18/odd.television.reut/index.html

Someone's year-old Toshiba flat-screen TV emits a distress signal which was picked up and resulted in a visit by a contingent of local police, civil air patrol and search and rescue personnel. He was told to keep his TV off or risk a $10'000 fine for "willingly broadcasting a false distress signal."

Buh?