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Who is the message intended for
The message is for the intended recipient and
the communication should remain private. When handling the message, you
should not reveal the existence or contents of the message, even after
the operation. Let the receiving agency determine if they want
to acknowledge the message, and let their Public Information Officer (PIO)
inform the media of the content.
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Who is listening?
You do not know who is listening.
It could be the general public. It could be the media. During
a hectic operation, it is unlikely they could monitor and track the full
range of messages in transit. Because
they are willing to pick up on one message out of context and expand on
it, rather than having the full benefit of all the information at the Emergency
Operating Centers, distortions and misrepresentations could result by third
parties.
Therefore, do not speculate, and stick to passing
messages originated and signed (authorized) by a responsible sender.
Log all messages, including the date/time of origin in case there is a
need to verify the origin and timing of the message.
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What you don't say
To the extent possible, do not pass along codes
or account numbers over the air that are considered unlisted or private.
Examples are unlisted phone numbers, credit card numbers, control codes
for repeaters. If such codes or numbers
are needed to fulfill an action, see if the message can be routed without
the codes to a third person who has both the codes and regular (telephone)
communication that can act on behalf of the affected party to complete
the action. (I.e., send the message to a relative who also has the
unlisted telephone numbers to complete the calls.)
If the situation becomes tense, especially due
to priorities vying for limited availability, be careful of the language
passed on the air. The safest method is to replace language with
high emotional content with language consistent with what diplomats use.
("We are very disappointed that the requested engineer and doctor will
be displaced on the first flight out by the persons from administration
support. We request you reconsider in light of the new developments
in the last half hour and reinstate the engineer and doctor.")
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Be sensitive during times when fatalities may occur.
If the operation involves the possibility of finding the remains of dead
people, and there is a likelihood of that relatives are listening at the
receiving end or on scanners, do not refer to the need for additional resource
people as "Need help. Send over more bodies." Use
headphones when operating to avoid having others nearby casually listen
in. You may wish to call for a "supervisor"
to come over and communicate the information direct to him/her rather than
over the air.
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Enhancing security/privacy
If you need to enhance security/privacy, consider
these techniques.
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Use digital (non-voice) modes to enhance privacy/security.
Modes such as CW, packet, AMTOR, PSK31, RTTY are possibilities.
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Use modes not frequently found in scanners or consumer
radios. I.e, SSB and CW for HF and 6M, FM for 10M, SSB and
CW for VHF/UHF/1.2G.
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Use satellite systems (with directional, non-terrestial,
low power signals) to work around casual terrestial listeners.
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Use image modes such as ATV, SSTV and FAX to pass
images.
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Use horizontal polarization to reduce vertically
polarized signal strength.
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Use split frequency or cross band operations to force
the monitoring party to use two separate receivers.
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Use cross-mode operations to force the monitoring
party to use two separate receivers.
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Do not reveal the existence of the communications
even after completion of the incident.
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Do not speculate about the messages. Do not
attempt to expand upon messages beyond the text of what has been exchanged.
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Do not pass codes or numbers on the air that are
considered unlisted or private.
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Observe the use and content of the language used.
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Use tactical callsigns instead of callsigns indicating
locations (ie, Station "Alpha" instead of the ICS command station).
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Use headphones when operating to avoid having others
nearby casually listen in.
