Platform Rules and Acceptable Use

Talk2Me’s shared communication platforms are intended to provide reliable, respectful, and lawful push-to-talk communication.

These guidelines apply to Public Radio Service (PRS), Community Radio Service (CRS), HamLink, and other Talk2Me-managed shared platforms. Individual groups, connected systems, and private networks may have additional rules.

Respect Other Users

Users must communicate respectfully and avoid conduct that disrupts another person’s ability to use the platform.

Prohibited conduct includes:

• Harassment, threats, intimidation, or stalking
• Hate speech or targeted abuse
• Obscene or excessively disruptive transmissions
• Repeatedly interrupting or talking over other users
• Intentionally creating noise, feedback, music, or interference
• Impersonating another person, organization, moderator, or public-safety agency
• Deliberately providing false or misleading information
• Using the platform to coordinate unlawful activity

Handle disagreements calmly. Do not continue an argument across multiple groups, follow another user between groups, or recruit other users into a personal dispute.

Push-to-Talk Etiquette

Listen before transmitting

1. Confirm that the correct platform and group are selected.
2. Listen briefly to determine whether another conversation is in progress.
3. Wait until the current speaker finishes.
4. Press and hold PTT.
5. Pause briefly before speaking.
6. Keep the transmission clear and reasonably brief.
7. Release PTT when finished.

Allow a short pause between transmissions so other users have an opportunity to respond.

Do not monopolize a group

Shared groups are available to multiple users. Avoid:

• Holding PTT for unnecessarily long periods
• Preventing others from joining a conversation
• Repeatedly transmitting without allowing responses
• Using a shared group for an extended private conversation
• Following another user between groups to continue an unwanted interaction

Use a supported direct-member feature or another appropriate communication method for private or lengthy conversations. Direct-member communication is not supported on PRS.

Protect Personal and Confidential Information

Treat public and shared groups as public communication spaces.

Do not transmit:

• Passwords or account credentials
• Complete payment-card or bank-account information
• Social Security numbers
• Medical or protected health information
• Private residential addresses
• Alarm, gate, access, or security codes
• Confidential customer or business information
• Information that could endanger another person

Other users may hear a public-group transmission, and nearby people may hear a radio speaker.

Lawful Use

Users are responsible for complying with applicable laws, licensing requirements, regulations, and platform rules.

The platform may not be used for:

• Fraud, scams, threats, or extortion
• Illegal surveillance
• Interference with another communication system
• Unauthorized access to accounts, radios, or networks
• Coordinating criminal activity
• Copyright infringement
• Transmitting unlawful or prohibited content
• Attempting to bypass platform restrictions or suspensions

The ability to access a group, account, or feature does not authorize unlawful use.

Emergency Communications

Talk2Me PoC platforms are not replacements for emergency services.

PRS, CRS, HamLink, and private PoC networks:

• Do not connect to ordinary telephone numbers
• Cannot place or receive standard telephone calls
• Cannot contact 911
• Cannot receive 911 callbacks
• Are not public-safety dispatch systems
• Depend on cellular data, supported Wi-Fi, and internet connectivity

Some radio models may separately support telephone calling with a compatible voice-capable SIM and service plan. That function is separate from Talk2Me’s PoC platforms.

HamLink Requirements

HamLink is intended for verified amateur-radio operators.

HamLink users must:

• Maintain a valid amateur-radio license
• Provide accurate license and callsign information
• Use the correct callsign when identification is required
• Follow applicable amateur-radio operating requirements
• Follow the rules of connected groups, nodes, repeaters, reflectors, and third-party systems
• Prevent unauthorized users from using their verified HamLink identity

HamLink access may be restricted until license verification is completed or renewed.

The availability of a talkgroup or linked system does not mean that every type of communication is permitted on it.

Usernames and Identities

A username, unit name, or callsign must not:

• Impersonate another user
• Falsely represent a government or public-safety agency
• Contain abusive, obscene, threatening, or disruptive language
• Use another person’s callsign without authorization
• Mislead users about the radio’s identity
• Reveal unnecessary private information

Talk2Me may require a username to be changed when it is misleading, inappropriate, duplicated, technically unsupported, or inconsistent with the verified account.

Group-Specific Rules

A group may have additional rules established by:

• Talk2Me
• An authorized moderator
• A group owner
• A private-network administrator
• An amateur-radio network or linked-system operator

Users must follow those rules in addition to the general platform guidelines.

A group may restrict:

• Discussion topics
• Transmission length
• Operating hours
• Permitted users
• Callsign or identification practices
• Commercial content
• Emergency, event, or priority traffic

Moderation and Access Restrictions

Talk2Me may moderate shared platforms and groups to maintain a safe, lawful, and usable service.

Moderation actions may include:

• Verbal or written warnings
• Requests to stop disruptive conduct
• Removal from a group
• Temporary platform restrictions
• Account suspension
• Disabling platform access
• Permanent termination for serious or repeated violations

The response may depend on the severity, frequency, context, available evidence, and prior conduct.

A radio may continue functioning as a physical device even when access to a Talk2Me platform is restricted. Separate UHF/VHF functions on compatible radios may also remain independent of PoC account access.

Advertising and Commercial Activity

Do not repeatedly advertise products, services, websites, events, organizations, or fundraising efforts in shared groups without authorization.

Occasional relevant discussion may be allowed, but spam, repeated promotions, misleading offers, and unsolicited sales activity are prohibited.

Contact Talk2Me before using a public group for organized commercial promotion.

Radio and Account Security

Users should:

• Protect account credentials
• Keep Platform Manager passwords private
• Report lost or stolen radios promptly
• Avoid sharing verified accounts with unauthorized users
• Notify Talk2Me when a radio changes owners
• Review unexpected username, group, administrator, or account changes
• Keep account contact information current

Do not attempt to:

• Access another customer’s account
• Modify another user’s radio or platform identity
• Bypass a suspension or group restriction
• Create duplicate accounts to avoid enforcement
• Change protected platform settings without authorization
• Use another person’s license, callsign, or verified identity

Talk2Me Support should not need your password.

Report a Problem

Submit a support request when you experience or observe:

• Harassment, threats, or stalking
• Impersonation
• Repeated intentional disruption
• An abusive or misleading username
• Suspected unauthorized account access
• Abuse of a public or shared group
• A lost or stolen radio
• Conduct that may present a safety concern

Information to include

• Platform name
• Group or talkgroup
• Username or callsign involved
• Approximate date and time
• Clear description of what occurred
• Names of possible witnesses
• Screenshots or recordings lawfully available to you
• Related ticket, report, or incident number

Do not confront another user when doing so could escalate the situation.

Immediate threats

For an immediate threat to life or safety, contact 911 or the appropriate local emergency authority using an approved emergency method.

A support ticket, email, Platform Manager message, or call to Talk2Me Customer Support is not monitored as an emergency-reporting service.

Questions About the Rules

Submit a PRS, CRS & HamLink Support request when you need clarification about:

• Permitted platform use
• Group-specific requirements
• HamLink licensing or identification
• A moderation action
• Username requirements
• Access restrictions
• Reporting another user

Use Private Network Support when the issue involves a private-network administrator, private group, or private-network access.

Do not include passwords, Wi-Fi credentials, complete payment-card information, or unnecessary sensitive personal information.

Related Guides

• What Is the Public Radio Service (PRS)? 
• What Is HamLink? 
• How to Select and Use Groups and Channels
• How to Change Your Radio Username on PRS, CRS, or HamLink
• Talk2Me Radio Safety and Service Limitations 
• Understanding Talk2Me Accounts and Customer Portals