A "pre-identified incident communications protocols are established and ready for use during large scale incidents and incidents requiring a coordinated Federal response... The NICCL was created to be a single source of coordination for DHS with all other Federal agencies. It can work as a call-in conference or as an open line that can be monitored 24 hours a day for the exchange of information and updates. It is primarily for Federal-to-Federal information sharing but can also include communicators from the primarily impacted State and local community. Specifically, the NICCL: (1) is used for transmission and exchange of information primarily targeted to support senior State and local officials; (2) originates with DHS Public Affairs and is an executive call to discuss happening events and their agencies.... roles, activities, and response; and (3) is typically conducted twice daily, but it could be staffed 24 hours a day and used as an open line for information dissemination if required by an incident". (FEMA, Basic Guidance for PIOs, Nov 2007, pp. 24-25)