Plain-language answer: SHARES is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security program that supports national-security and emergency HF communications among authorized government, industry, and critical-infrastructure stations.
Why it matters
It is not an amateur-radio service. Participation, frequencies, procedures, and station authorization are controlled by the program.
Use it well
Use SHARES only through an authorized organization, approved station, current channel plan, and required operating procedures.
The common mistake
Treating SHARES channels as emergency frequencies available to any radio operator.
Authority and safety boundary
Current regulations, electrical codes, equipment manuals, program authorization, and the served organization’s procedures control. This article is practical orientation, not permission to transmit, alter protective wiring, or self-deploy.
