SHARES FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the SHAred RESources (SHARES) High Frequency (HF) Radio Program.

What is SHARES?

The SHAred RESources (SHARES) High Frequency (HF) Radio Program coordinates a voluntary network of government, industry, and disaster response agency HF radio stations used for emergency communications. SHARES supports government (federal, state, and county), critical infrastructure, and nationwide or multi-state disaster response organizations in two ways: by transmitting emergency messages when normal communications systems are destroyed or unavailable, and by providing HF radio channels for interoperability. SHARES supports Emergency Support Function Two (ESF #2), Communications, and helps participants maintain awareness of applicable regulatory, procedural, and technical issues. SHARES is a program of the National Coordinating Center for Communications (NCC), a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC).

How Does SHARES Work?

The SHARES HF Radio Program is the responsibility of, and is administered by the DHS Office of Cybersecurity and Communications (CS&C). Members of the SHARES Program consult the SHARES Handbook to find stations, frequencies, and/or Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) addresses of participating organizations they need to communicate/coordinate with during emergency operations. SHARES is available on a 24-hour basis and requires no prior coordination or activation to transmit messages. Participating SHARES HF radio stations accept and relay messages until a receiving station is able to deliver the message to the intended addressee. The SHARES Program conducts weekly and quarterly communications exercises designed to provide users with operational knowledge, technical skills, and training in preparation for proficiency during emergencies.

What Else Should I Know?

• Over 1,350 HF radio stations—representing 104 federal, state, and industry organizations, located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and overseas—participate in SHARES.
• Nearly 500 emergency planning and response personnel participate in SHARES.
• SHARES utilizes multiple federally-assigned HF radio channels for use by SHARES members.
• The SHARES HF Interoperability Working Group, with members representing 110 organizations, conducts HF technical reviews, provides regulatory guidance and direction for administration of the SHARES network, and promotes awareness of new HF radio technologies.

Contact

Additional information may be obtained by contacting the SHARES Program Office at 703-235-5329 or nccshares@dhs.gov.