Radio use must comply with regulations of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The following rules are set forth to meet these regulations and to provide a safe and efficient operation.

700. Use and Care of Radios
Company radios must be used exclusively for railroad operations. The use of radios other than those furnished by the Company for railroad operations is prohibited.

Employees using radio equipment must exercise care to prevent damage to or loss of the equipment. Employees assigned a portable radio will be responsible for the proper care and protection of it.

No technical adjustments may be made to a radio set, except by those employees specifically authorized.

701. Requirements for Trains
Each train must have a working radio on the leading end of the controlling engine when it is dispatched from its initial terminal. Each train must also be equipped with a working redundant means for communicating with the Dispatcher, Operator or Yardmaster. The redundant means shall be a radio on another engine in consist, a portable radio, cellular phone, or other means of wireless two-way communication.

702. Requirements for Track Cars and Roadway Workers
Track cars moving between work locations must have a working radio. When more than one track car is moving under the same authority, only one working radio is required.

Each employee assigned to provide on-track safety for Roadway Workers and each lone worker must have immediate access to a working radio. When immediate access to a working radio is not available, the employee must be within hearing range of a radio capable of monitoring transmissions from train movements in the vicinity. These requirements do not apply when the work location is physically inaccessible to trains, or has no through traffic or traffic on adjacent tracks during the period when Roadway Workers are present.

703. Communications Device Testing, Failure, Interference
Radio and other required communication devices must be tested as soon as practical to ensure that the equipment functions as intended, prior to commencement of the work assignment. The test of a radio shall consist of an exchange of voice transmissions with another radio. The employee receiving the transmission shall advise the employee conducting the test of the clarity of the transmission. Radios and other required communication devices that do not operate properly must be removed from service and the Dispatcher or Yardmaster notified promptly. In event of radio failure en route, the Dispatcher must be notified as soon as practical.

Radio interference from another radio station must also be reported to the Dispatcher or Yardmaster promptly with information as to location, time, and, if possible, the identity of the interfering station.

If a radio fails on the controlling engine, the train may continue until the earlier of the next calendar day inspection or the next forward point where the radio can be repaired or replaced.

704. Radio Inspection
Employees shall permit inspection of the radio equipment in their charge and all FCC documents pertaining thereto by a duly accredited representative of the FCC at any reasonable time.

705. Radio Transmission and Reception Procedures
Before transmitting by radio, the employee must listen to ensure that the channel on which he intends to transmit is not in use.

All transmissions must be repeated by the employee receiving them except:

1. Transmissions used in yard switching operations.
2. Those transmissions that do not contain any information, instruction or advice that could affect the safety of a railroad operation.

Employees must ensure that radio contact with the proper persons has been made and must not take action until certain that all conversation with them has been heard, understood and acknowledged.

Any radio communication that is not fully understood or completed in accordance with the requirements of these rules shall not be acted upon and shall be treated as though not sent. Emergency communications are an exception.

An employee receiving a radio call must acknowledge the call immediately unless doing so would interfere with safety.

706. Radio Location and Monitoring
When their duties involve the use of radio, employees must have the radio on and tuned to the proper channel at all times. The volume must be adjusted so that all transmissions can be heard.

The Timetable designates fixed base stations, wayside stations, periods attended and assigned radio channels.

707. Emergency Communications
All employees shall give absolute priority to emergency communications. Except in answering or aiding a station in distress, employees shall refrain from sending any communication until certain that no interference will result to the station in distress.

708. Radio Messages: Content and Code Words
The following procedures will govern identification and content of messages when using radio:

When originating or initially responding to a radio call, employees must:

1. Identify their employing railroad.
2. Identify their base station, wayside station or yard station by name or other designation of station and location.
3. Identify their mobile radio unit by:

a. Schedule number if on a scheduled train.
b. Symbol and engine number if on an extra train. If engine belongs to another company, that company's initials must precede the engine number.
c. TC followed by the number of the car if on a track car.
d. Other appropriate mobile unit identification.

Communication must be as brief as possible and must use these key words:

709. Prohibited Transmissions
Employees shall not knowingly transmit:

1. Any false distress communication.
2. Any unnecessary, irrelevant, or unidentified communication.

The Digitized Conductor - Version 1.0
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