49 CFR § 220.29 - Statement of letters and numbers in radio communications.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s220.29"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 220.29 - Statement of letters and numbers in radio communications."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "220.29"
section_name: "Statement of letters and numbers in radio communications."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
part_number: "220"
part_name: "RAILROAD COMMUNICATIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 20102-20103, 20103 note, 20107, 21301-21302, 20701-20703, 21304, 21311; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89."
regulatory_source: "63 FR 47195, Sept. 4, 1998, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "220"
---
# 220.29 Statement of letters and numbers in radio communications.
(a) If necessary for clarity, a phonetic alphabet shall be used to pronounce any letter used as an initial, except initial letters of railroads. See appendix A of this part for the recommended phonetic alphabet.
(b) A word which needs to be spelled for clarity, such as a station name, shall first be pronounced, and then spelled. If necessary, the word shall be spelled again, using a phonetic alphabet.
(c) Numbers shall be spoken by digit, except that exact multiples of hundreds and thousands may be stated as such. A decimal point shall be indicated by the words “decimal,” “dot,” or “point.” (See appendix B to this part, for a recommended guide to the pronunciation of numbers.)