# Presentation: 188829

## SHAred RESources (SHARES)High Frequency Radio Program

**SHAred RESources (SHARES)****High Frequency Radio Program**

**SHARES Overview Briefing For **
**Emergency Response Training - Phase IV****   **
**                                   ****                                              **
**     ****Office Of The Manager, National Communications System (OMNCS)**
**      ****701 South Court House Road**
**      ****Arlington, Virginia 22204-2198**
**	****	****	****  **Presenter			SHARES Program Office
- 			  Mr. William Gleichsner	Mr. Ronald Thomas
- 						Thomas5r@ncs.gov

**Notes:**
Good morning, today I will be presenting a brief on the National Communications System – SHARES HF Radio Program.

##     SHARES combines existing High Frequency (HF) assets from 91 Federal, state, and industry organizations into a single emergency voice and data message handling network, supporting national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP)

**Description**

**Notes:**
The SHARES program provides the Federal emergency response community with a nationwide emergency message handling system which uses existing high frequency radio resources of Federal and federally affiliated organizations as its primary transmission means when normal communications are destroyed or unavailable.  

HF resources used in SHARES are voluntarily contributed by Federal, state, and industry organizations.  Approved in January 1989 by the Executive Office of the President, the SHARES program currently consists of over 1,000 HF radio stations, representing 91 separate organizations.  Over 150 HF frequencies are approved for use by SHARES stations nationwide.  

## SHARES Concept of Operations

**AGENCY B**
**SHARES Station**

**AGENCY A**
**MSG Originator**

**SHARES STATION**

**SHARES STATION**

**AGENCY A**
**MSG Addressee**

**AGENCY C**
**SHARES Station**

**HF RELAY**

**HF DIRECT**

**SHARES Concept of Operations**

**Notes:**
This map, taken from the SHARES Emergency Management System (SEMS), shows how an HF radio communications link is established point to point and by relay when normal communications are not available.  SHARES stations nationwide are geographically dispersed virtually ensuring an HF path will be established when required.

## SHARES availability
Always available
Requires no activation 

Criteria for emergency use
 No other means of communication available 
 Supports NS/EP requirements
 Preservation of life or protection of property
 Non-interfering basis

- Always available
- Requires no activation
- Criteria for emergency use
-  No other means of communication available
-  Supports NS/EP requirements
-  Preservation of life or protection of property
-  Non-interfering basis

**Operations**

**Notes:**
One of the more frequently misunderstood aspects of SHARES is its availability.  SHARES does not require activation.  It is available on a full period basis for use by any Federal agency.  So long as the information to be passed over the SHARES network supports national security and emergency preparedness, or deals with the preservation of life or protection of property, and so long as no other means of communications is available, SHARES can be used to pass message traffic without prior notice.  The processing of SHARES traffic is also not to interfere with the mission activities of the participating organizations.  Although SHARES requires no activation, the Working Group established the SHARES Coordination Network, (SCN) Level Change Notice to notify stations that a situation exists in which SHARES support may be required.  

## Slide 5

**Notes:**
Participation in SHARES is open to all Federal departments and agencies, and their designated affiliates on a voluntary, non-interfering basis.  As of March 2003,  91 Federal, state and industry organizations contribute the resources of 1090 HF stations located in all 50 states and at 20 overseas locations. 

## SHARES Coordination Net

**Notes:**
To facilitate SHARES operations, the 10 channel nationwide SHARES Coordination Network, (SCN) may be used by stations to obtain information on the status of other SHARES stations, to submit Station Availability reports to any of the 16 SHARES Coordination Stations at the outset of an emergency, and to conduct on-air training during times when SHARES emergency support is not required.

## SHARES Readiness / Training

**Notes:**
A weekly SHARES Net is conducted each Wednesday from 1600Z to 1800Z.  The net allows stations an opportunity to test equipment, evaluate propagation conditions and conduct radio checks using voice, ALE and digital modes supporting the SHARES BBS.  In addition to the weekly SHARES Net 3 nationwide SHARES Exercises are conducted annually.  The exercises emphasize maximum station participation and training on SHARES operating and message formatting procedures.  SHARES also supports emergency  communications exercises of Federal and federally affiliated organizations.

## Slide 8

**Notes:**
This slide shows past events when Emergency and Special SHARES Operations were conducted which includes support during the Department of Homeland Security’s increase in threat levels to HIGH, (Orange) and response to the Space Shuttle Columbia and Northeast Power Outage emergencies.

## Slide 9

**Notes:**
The SHARES Coordination Network conducted SCN Level 2 Operations on September 11, 2001 in response to the terrorist attack on America.  HF circuits were established in the disaster areas of New York and Washington DC.  All total 342 stations nationwide reported their station availability during this disaster.

## Slide 10

**Notes:**
This slide shows the past 8 SHARES operations that have been conducted.   SHARES supports 2 types of Operations, (Emergency and Special).  Emergency Operations support situations that occur without warning like earthquakes and terrorists attacks.  Special Operations support situations with limited advance warning like hurricanes with a projected landfall in 12 hours and high risk situations like the Olympics and Presidential Inauguration or when the threat advisory level issued by the Department of Homeland Security is elevated to HIGH, (Orange).

## Summary

- Provides nationwide HF communication capability to meet NS/EP requirements
- Multi-agency network using existing HF assets and frequencies
- Proven to be an effective, low cost, all volunteer HF back-up program when other means of communications are lost

**Summary**

**Notes:**
Are there any questions?

## Point of Contact

- SHARES	  Mr. Ron Thomas	703-607-4963
- 						      Thomas5r@ncs.gov

## Slide 13