§ 213.5   Precedence designators.

   (a) The following precedence designators are available for Government and
   public correspondence users:
   Federal Government Domestic public correspondence and international
   telephone calls
   Flash Flash emergency.
   Immediate Immediate emergency.
   Priority Priority emergency.
   Routine (No domestic equivalent.)

   (b) Government and non-Government users of public correspondence services
   will handle their international messages in accordance with current ITU
   Telegraph Regulations. Government users should note that, generally, the
   only  precedence  designator available for their use for international
   messages sent over public correspondence circuits if Etat Priorite. The ITU
   Regulations do not contain precedence designators which equate to Flash,
   Immediate, or Priority. Accordingly, Government messages whether Flash,
   Immediate,  or Priority precedence when sent over international public
   correspondence circuits will be handled as Etat Priorite messages. Thus,
   Priority  messages will receive the same treatment in transmission and
   processing  as  Immediate or Flash messages. Conversely, Etat Priorite
   messages received in the United States shall be transmitted and processed in
   the order of receipt, to the extent possible. The precedence designator
   available for non-Government users of public correspondence services is
   Urgent.  The  Urgent designator is limited for use only during wartime
   conditions, as declared pursuant to section 606 of the Communications Act of
   1934.

   (c) Domestic and International U.S. common carriers, insofar as practicable
   by agreement with their foreign correspondents, shall endeavor to arrange
   the proper level of precedence handling of international messages and calls
   originating, terminating in, or transiting the United States: Provided,
   however, That insofar as international messages are concerned the level of
   precedence shall be consistent with the International Telecommunication
   Conventions and regulations thereunder.

   (d)  The  Government  designators shall be used throughout the Federal
   Government. All messages and telephone calls sent via public correspondence
   services  shall  use  domestic  or international public correspondence
   designators as appropriate. Thus, the responsibility is on Government and
   public correspondence users to recognize and use the appropriate designators
   when using public correspondence services.

   (e) On international telephone calls the carrier's operator will convert to
   the appropriate international designator.

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