Nebraska Statewide Interoperability Mutual Aid
Standard Operating Procedures
1.0 Terminology & guidelines for communication
1.0
Terminology & guidelines for communication
Nebraska agencies using mutual aid frequencies to communicate across jurisdictions or
agencies need a common understanding of terminology and guidelines for
communicating. Local or agency specific codes and jargon may hamper effective
communication in a mutual aid situation. This procedure establishes acceptable
terminology and guidelines for communicating on Nebraska’s mutual aid
communications system. The intended audience includes all potential users of the
mutual aid communications system.
Purpose:
The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to establish a common
understanding of terminology and of how to communicate effectively using Nebraska’s
mutual aid communications system.
Standard Operating Procedure:
1.
Radio communications procedures on interoperability channels must be
consistent with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and
Incident Command System (ICS).
2.
Plain or commonly understood language is to be used when communicating
on Nebraska’s mutual aid system. When necessary, the phonetic alphabet
may be used to help make your communication clear (Attachment 1.1).
3.
No 10 – codes will be used on the mutual aid channels.
4.
Radio communications should be Accurate, Brief and Clear (Attachment 1.2).
5.
Use complete phrases/designations instead of abbreviations or acronyms.
6.
Be professional in all your communications by avoiding humor, obscenities,
jargon or casual conversation. Failure to abide by this guideline may place the
user in violation of Federal Communications Commission regulations.
(Attachment 1.3)
a. Instances of inappropriate communication on mutual aid frequencies will
be referred to the person in charge of the agency or jurisdiction that the
alleged offender represents. The referral will be made by the incident
commander or supervisor of mutual aid dispatch services as appropriate.
7.
Initiating a call on a mutual aid channel:
a. Calls initiated from the dispatch center must include identification by
location or PSAP name. For example, Phantom County Nebraska
Dispatch.
b. The first call from the field must include identification that includes the
caller’s agency and unit or badge number, followed by agency jurisdiction
Nebraska Statewide Interoperability Mutual Aid
Standard Operating Procedures
1.0 Terminology & guidelines for communication
(city, county, state. Be as specific as possible about your location in the
field after identifying yourself to dispatch. For example, give your last
known location; mile marker; or landmark. Subsequent communication
may be shortened, but it is important to use all identifiers in the first call to
dispatch or incident command. The shortened identifier will normally
include either the agency or jurisdiction and number given.
i.
8.
For example: This is Phantom County Sheriff – 123 – Phantom
County Nebraska. Located at mile marker 10 on Highway X.
Subsequent communications may be shortened by dispatch to
Phantom County 123.
Ending communication on a mutual aid channel:
a. End each communication by re-stating the identifier that you used to begin
the communication.
9.
Handling a non-responsive communicator in the field
a. Dispatch will wait up to 30 seconds for a call to the field or another station
to be answered.
b. Dispatch may opt to repeat the call up to three times (depending on the
urgency of the situation).
i. Alternate methods of contacting the field or station will be
attempted if no answer is received. (for example: calling a cell
phone; sending an alert tone; dispatching someone else in the field
to the last known location of the communicator)
Attachments:
1.1
Phonetic Alphabet examples
1.2
Mutual Aid radio communication guidelines
1.3
Federal Communications Commission excerpts (47 CFR§ 90.405)
Date Proposed by NCOR:
Date Adopted:
Date Amended:
May 23, 2008
Nebraska Statewide Interoperability Mutual Aid
Standard Operating Procedures
1.0 Terminology & guidelines for communication
Attachment 1.1
Phonetic Alphabet examples
A phonetic alphabet is a list of words used to identify letters in a message transmitted
by radio or telephone. Below are two commonly used phonetic alphabets. Normally the
letter is stated, followed by the phonetic word that represents that letter. For example,
“A-Alpha; C-Charlie; T-Tango”
Law Enforcement
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
Adam
Boy
Charlie
David
Edward
Frank
George
Henry
Ida
John
King
Lincoln
Mary
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Nora
Ocean
Paul
Queen
Robert
Sam
Tom
Union
Victor
William
X-ray
Young
Zebra
Fire/EMS & Military
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
India
Juliet
Kilo
Lima
Mike
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
November
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Uniform
Victor
Whiskey
X-ray
Yankee
Zulu
Nebraska Statewide Interoperability Mutual Aid
Standard Operating Procedures
1.0 Terminology & guidelines for communication
Attachment 1.2
Mutual aid radio communication guidelines
Be ACCURATE
It is important that the exchange of information in a public safety setting be precise and
accurate. One way to insure that information is received accurately is to repeat vital
information a second time so the receiver can check for errors.
Be BRIEF
Radio transmissions must be brief and to the point. Say only what needs to be said and
then stop transmitting. Superfluous (unnecessary) words hinder the smooth operation
of any communication system. Use of filler words and jargon must be avoided.
Only information of an official nature is to be transmitted over the mutual aid radio
system. Use a telephone, whenever practical and appropriate, rather than the radio to
provide confidential or extensive information or to obtain expansive consultation.
Be CLEAR
Words must be pronounced correctly, distinctly and as clearly as possible in order to be
understood. The Phonetic alphabet is a helpful tool, especially when dealing with
difficult to pronounce names, locations or when transmitting numbers. Another aspect
of clarity is the rate that one speaks. When communicating by radio, it is important to
speak at a normal conversational rate. Speaking too fast or too slow makes it difficult for
the other person to clearly receive messages.
Users should try to maintain a neutral tone of voice, not allowing anger or other emotion
to show in their radio transmissions. Users should never engage in sarcastic or
disrespectful language, or editorialize regarding persons or circumstances. Users
should not engage in argumentative and unnecessary questioning of other personnel
over the air.
TRANSMISSION GUIDELINES
 Listen First
o Listen for instructions on channel usage
o Listen for your identifier being called
o Listen for details related to your role in the communication and/or event
 Think before you Speak
o Pause momentarily by taking one or two breaths before speaking over the
mutual aid channel. This will allow the speaker to quickly formulate an
accurate, brief, clear message using plain language.
 Pause for Equipment
o Some radio equipment may require the sender to pause before speaking
so that the entire message is heard.
Nebraska Statewide Interoperability Mutual Aid
Standard Operating Procedures
1.0 Terminology & guidelines for communication


Pause for Priorities
Be prepared for Questions/Clarifications
o Although radio traffic should be kept at a minimum, it is important that the
message you are sending is received accurately. Questions about your
transmission will help the receiver understand your message.
Nebraska Statewide Interoperability Mutual Aid
Standard Operating Procedures
1.0 Terminology & guidelines for communication
Attachment 1.3
Federal Communications Commission excerpts (47 CFR§ 90.405)
The license issued by the Federal Communications Commission is for PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMUNICATIONS only. (47 CFR§ 90.405)
Public safety employees are not licensed for person to person communication Use the
formal identifier but not the name of the person to whom you are speaking. Use your
call sign or identifier rather than referring to yourself with pronouns like “I” or “me”. All
radio transmissions must be impersonal.
Public safety communications does not allow for any type of personal use of the radio
system. Humorous remarks of any nature or use of expressions like “please” or “thank
you” and other similar remarks can’t be used on the radio. Public safety
communications also does not allow reproduction or broadcast of music, AM/FM radio
or television. Obscene and/or false information is also prohibited and forbidden.
All of this is in violation of Federal Communications Commission regulations and
subjects the user and licensee to revocation of license.
47 CFR§ 90.403
(a) Licensees of radio stations in the private land mobile radio services shall be
directly responsible for the proper operation and use of each transmitter for which they
are licensed. In this connection, licensees shall exercise such direction and control as is
necessary to assure that all authorized facilities are employed:
(1) Only for permissible purposes;
(2) Only in a permissible manner; and
(3) Only by persons with authority to use and operate such equipment […]
(d) Communications involving the imminent safety-of-life or property are to be
afforded priority by all licensees.
(e) Licensees shall take reasonable precautions to avoid causing harmful
interference. This includes monitoring the transmitting frequency for communications in
progress and such other measures as may be necessary to minimize the potential for
causing interference.
SEC. 303. [47 U.S.C. 303] GENERAL POWERS OF [THE FEDERAL
COMMUNICATIONS] COMMISSION (COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934 AS
AMENDED)
Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the Commission from time to time, as public
convenience, interest, or necessity requires shall—[…]
(m)(1) Have authority to suspend the license of any operator upon proof sufficient to
satisfy the Commission that the licensee—
Nebraska Statewide Interoperability Mutual Aid
Standard Operating Procedures
1.0 Terminology & guidelines for communication
(A) Has violated, or caused, aided, or abetted the violation of, any provision of
any Act, treaty, or convention binding on the United States, which the Commission is
authorized to administer, or any regulation made by the Commission under any such
Act, treaty, or convention; or
(B) Has failed to carry out a lawful order of the master or person lawfully in
charge of the ship or aircraft on which he is employed; or
(C) Has willfully damaged or permitted radio apparatus or installations to be
damaged; or
(D) Has transmitted superfluous radio communications or signals or
communications containing profane or obscene words, language, or meaning, or has
knowingly transmitted—
(1) False or deceptive signals or communications; or
(2) A call signal or letter which has not been assigned by proper authority
to the station he is operating; or
(E) Has willfully or maliciously interfered with any other radio communications or
signals; or
(F) Has obtained or attempted to obtain, or has assisted another to obtain or
attempt to obtain, an operator's license by fraudulent means.