Sec. 213.7  Policies.

    (a) Calls and messages in each precedence classification above shall 
have no precedence over others within the same classification, except 
where, within the same classification, they cannot be handled 
simultaneously. Then, they shall be handled in the order of their 
receipt.
    (b) Individuals whose requirements qualify them to use the 
precedence system share the responsibility for insuring its 
effectiveness. Users must familiarize themselves with the purposes to be 
served by the use of each precedence designator. It must be remembered 
that the entire system will operate successfully only if the use of the 
precedence designator is limited strictly to the intended purposes. Each 
user must consider whether each message or call requires any special 
precedence and exercise care not to specify a higher precedence than 
circumstances require.
    (c) For public correspondence message services, the domestic or 
international precedence designators shall be shown in full by the 
sender as the first word preceding the name of the addressee.
    (d) For public correspondence call services, the user should first 
attempt to complete the call in the normal manner. In the event the user 
is unable to complete the call and the type of communication falls 
within one of the precedence categories listed herein the call should be 
filed with an operator for completion and the user must specify the 
required precedence handling by stating that this is a Flash Emergency,

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Immediate Emergency, or Priority Emergency call, whichever the case may 
be.
    (e) Any apparent misuse of precedence indicators by non-Federal 
Government activities brought to the attention of the communication 
common carriers shall be referred to the FCC on and after-the-fact 
basis.
    (f) Any apparent misuse by Federal Government activities brought to 
the attention of the communication common carriers shall be referred to 
the Executive Agent, National Communications System. The Executive Agent 
will refer any matter which cannot be resolved with the cognizant 
Government activity to the National Security Council, for decision.
    (g) It is essential to provide public message and call capability 
for the transmission of military, governmental, and essential non-
Government precedence messages and calls. Private line services for 
military, governmental, and other essential users are protected under a 
Priority System for Intercity Private Line Services promulgated by the 
FCC (FCC Order 67-51) and the National Security Council. However, during 
national emergencies, military, governmental, and other essential users 
will have additional requirements for prompt completion of precedence 
traffic over public correspondence communication common carrier 
facilities. Therefore, notwithstanding the provisions of the above-
described Priority System for Intercity Private Line Services, 
communication common carriers shall have available a minimum number of 
public correspondence circuits at all times so as to provide for the 
transmission of precedence type messages and calls. Normally, the 
communication common carriers shall use their judgment in determining 
this number of circuits required for public correspondence precedence 
traffic. However, the authority is reserved to the National Security 
Council or the Federal Communications Commission, as appropriate to the 
time and situation, to revise the decisions of the carriers respecting 
the allocation of circuits, and to resolve any questions which are 
referred to them by the carriers or the users.