Editing Ten-code (section)

== Replacement with plain language ==
While ten-codes were intended to be a terse, concise, and standardized system, the proliferation of different meanings can render them useless in situations when officers from different agencies and jurisdictions need to communicate.

In the fall of 2005, responding to inter-organizational communication problems during the rescue operations after [[Hurricane Katrina]], the United States [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) discouraged the use of ten-codes and other codes due to their wide variation in meaning.<ref>[http://www.officer.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=19&id=26605 The End of the Ten-Code?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722201256/http://www.officer.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=19&id=26605|date=2009-07-22}}. Tim Dees, Officer.com, 9 November 2005</ref><ref>[http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_5e02f577-c15d-5848-89b8-3f03ea7da3b5.html?mode=print 10-4 no more?]. Megan Scott, asap (AP), 23 November 2005</ref> The [[Department of Homeland Security]]'s SAFECOM program, established in response to communication problems experienced during the [[September 11 attacks]] also advises local agencies on how and why to transition to plain language,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safecomprogram.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5945AFE3-ADA9-4189-83B0-4D8218D0CA2F/0/PlainLanguageGuide.pdf|title=Plain Language Guide|work=SAFECOM program|publisher=Department of Homeland Security|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527234725/http://www.safecomprogram.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5945AFE3-ADA9-4189-83B0-4D8218D0CA2F/0/PlainLanguageGuide.pdf|archive-date=2010-05-27|url-status=dead|access-date=2010-01-23}}</ref> and their use is expressly forbidden in the nationally standardized [[Incident Command System]], as is the use of other codes.<ref name="nimsfaq">Federal Emergency Management Agency. ''NIMS Frequently Asked Questions''. Retrieved on 2014-12-01 from {{cite web|url=https://www.fema.gov/nims-frequently-asked-questions|title=NIMS Frequently Asked Questions &#124; FEMA.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223190939/http://www.fema.gov/nims-frequently-asked-questions|archive-date=2014-12-23|url-status=live|access-date=2014-12-02}}.</ref>

APCO International stated in 2012 that plain speech communications over public safety radio systems is preferred over the traditional 10-Codes and dispatch signals.<ref>[http://www.apcointl.org/advocacy/position-statements.html#plainspeech APCO position statement on Plain Speech in Public Safety Communications] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509005027/http://www.apcointl.org/advocacy/position-statements.html|date=2012-05-09}}</ref> Nineteen states had changed to plain English by the end of 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.policeone.com/patrol-issues/articles/1984858-Maine-police-dropping-10-code-switching-to-plain-language/|title=Maine police dropping 10-code, switching to plain language|last=Mack|first=Sharon Kiley|date=January 1, 2010|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|access-date=October 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118082538/http://www.policeone.com/patrol-issues/articles/1984858-Maine-police-dropping-10-code-switching-to-plain-language|archive-date=January 18, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> {{as of|2011}}, ten-codes remained in common use in many areas, but were increasingly being phased out in favor of plain language.<ref name="plain" />

=== Phrase Word Brevity Code ===
About 1979, APCO created the Phrase Word Brevity Code as a direct replacement for the Ten-code.<ref name=":1" />
{| class="wikitable"
|+Phrase Word Brevity Code
!Phrase word
!English meaning
!APCO Ten-code
|-
|Use Caution
|Caution: dangerous condition is suspected to exist.
|10-0
|-
|Unreadable
|Radio signal is too weak to receive.
|10-1
|-
|Out of Service
|Unit, vehicle or person is not working
|10-7
|-
|In Service
|Unit, vehicle or person is working but not necessarily "available" or "on radio."
|10-8
|-
|Available
|Unit is in service ready to accept assignment, not necessarily by radio.
|10-24
|-
|Not Available
|Unit cannot accept another assignment, but may be "on radio."
|10-7A
|-
|Prepare to Copy
|Dispatcher is about to give lengthy message.
|10-14
|-
|Go
|You have been given clearance to transmit your message.
| - -
|-
|Roger (Received)
|Message received and understood.
|10-4
|-
|Say Again (Repeat)
|Repeat your message.
|10-9
|-
|Stand By
|Stop transmitting and wait for further instructions.
|10-12
|-
|Disregard (Recall)
|Cancel your present assignment.
|10-22
|-
|Off Radio
|Unit is not capable of being contacted by radio, but may be "available."
|10-7B
|-
|On Radio
|Unit is capable of being contacted by radio, but not necessarily "available."
|10-11
|-
|Responding
|Unit is en route to assigned location.
|10-17
|-
|Under Control
|Situation is under control when no further assistance is anticipated.
| - -
|-
|Telephone (Tel. # or person)
|Call by telephone specified number or person.
|10-21
|-
|Priority
|When transmitted, means that the following transmission must have immediate attention.
| - -
|-
|In Pursuit
|Unit is chasing a vehicle and requires assistance from other units.
| - -
|-
|Traffic Stop
|Unit is going to stop a motorist.
| - -
|-
|Help Officer
|Help me quick (emergency).
|10-33
|-
|Affirmative
|Yes.
|10-4
|}

=== ICS Clear Text ===
In 1980, the [[National Incident Management System]] published a document, ICS Clear Text Guide, which was another attempt to create a replacement for Ten-codes. The list of code words was republished in the 1990 Montana Mutual Aid and Common Frequencies document.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/mutualaidcommonf1990mont|title=1990 Montana Mutual Aid and Common Frequencies|year=1990}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ICS Clear Text Guide<ref name=":2" />
!Procedure word
!Meaning
|-
|Unreadable
|Used when signal received is not clear. In most cases, try to add the specific trouble. Example: "Unreadable, background noise."
|-
|Loud and Clear
| rowspan="2" |Self-explanatory
|-
|Stop Transmitting
|-
|Copy, Copies
|Used to acknowledge message received. Unit radio identifier must also be used. Example: "Engine 2675, copies."
|-
|Affirmative
|Yes
|-
|Negative
|No
|-
|Respond, Responding
|Used during dispatch – proceed to or proceeding to an incident. Example: "Engine 5176, respond ..." or "St. Helena, Engine 1375 responding."
|-
|Enroute
|Normally used by administrative or staff personnel to designate destinations. Enroute is NOT a substitute for responding. Example: "Redding, Chief 2400 enroute RO II."
|-
|In-quarters, with Station Name or Number
|Used to indicate that a unit is in a station. Example: "Morgan Hill, Engine 4577 in-quarters, Sunol."
|-
|Uncovered
|Indicates a unit is not in-service, because there are no personnel to operate it.
|-
|Out-Of-Service
|Indicates a unit is mechanically out of service. Example: "Aburn, transport 2341, out-of-service." Note, when repairs have been completed the following phrase should be used: "Aburn transport 2341, back in-service, available."
|-
|In-Service
|This means that the unit is operating, not in response to a dispatch. Example: "Fortuna, Engine 1283, in-service, fire prevention inspections."
|-
|Repeat
| rowspan="2" |Self-explanatory
|-
|Weather
|-
|Return to
|Normally used by communications center to direct units that are available to a station or other location.
|-
|What is your Location?
| rowspan="6" |Self-explanatory
|-
|Call ____ by Phone
|-
|Disregard Last Message
|-
|Stand-By
|-
|Vehicle Registration Check
|-
|Is ____ Available for a Phone Call?
|-
|At Scene
|Used when Units arrive at the scene of an incident. Example: "Perris, Engine 6183, at scene."
|-
|Available at Residence
|Used by administrative or staff personnel to indicate they are available and on-call at their residence.
|-
|Can Handle
|Used with the amount of equipment needed to handle the incident. Example: "Susanville Battalion 2212, can handle with units not at scene."
|-
|Burning Operations
| rowspan="3" |Self-explanatory
|-
|Report on Conditions
|-
|Fire under Control
|-
|Emergency Traffic Only
|Radio users will confine all radio transmissions to an emergency in progress or a new incident. Radio traffic which includes status information such as responding, reports on conditions, at scene and available will not be authorized during this period.
|-
|Emergency Traffic
|Term used to gain control of radio frequency to report an emergency. All other radio users will refrain from using that frequency until cleared for use by the communications center.
|-
|Resume Normal Traffic
|Self-explanatory
|}