FURTHER GUIDANCE ON THE SIPDIS CABLE CAPTION

UNCLAS STATE 089712

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

FOR ALL CABLE DRAFTERS

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: AMGT ACOA AOMS PINR KCCP

SUBJECT: FURTHER GUIDANCE ON THE SIPDIS CABLE CAPTION

REF: 05 STATE 226504
06 STATE 083673

SUMMARY


1. (SBU) The Department in December 2005 distributed
general guidance (05 State 00226504) concerning the use of
the new SIPDIS distribution caption (5FAH-2 H-440). The
SIPDIS caption (which means SIPRnet distribution)
facilitates inter-agency information sharing, a top State
Department priority, via the US Government's Secret-level
network. Washington bound SIPDIS-captioned cables are
automatically copied to a State database accessible to USG
users on ClassNet and SIPRNet/Intelink-S. Nearly 200 posts
today routinely use the SIPDIS caption. Use of the SIPDIS
caption will ensure that post's reporting cables are
automatically posted to the NetCentric Diplomacy (NCD)
homepage as well as the mission's classified SIPRNet
homepage via the NCD cable portlet.
USE OF THE SIPDIS DISTRIBUTION CAPTION

2a. (SBU) The SIPDIS caption should be used on all
telegrams appropriate for sharing with the broader US
government community. SIPDIS-captioned cables are
automatically copied to the Department's Net-Centric
Diplomacy (NCD) database, which is accessible to Secret-
cleared USG users on SIPRNet/Intelink-S (see
http://ncd.state.sgov.gov/). The USG has held high-level
discussions with our closest allies concerning the sharing
of information. Based on these discussions, efforts are
underway to increase sharing of classified military and
intelligence information with certain US Allies via SIPRNET
- see REFTEL STATE 083673. However, under this guidance
diplomatic communications will not be released unless
specifically labeled as releasable to foreign nationals.

2b. (SBU) SIPDIS-captioned messages may not include
restrictive captions (e.g., NODIS, EXDIS, ROGER, STADIS,
DS, DSX, and DS-BI) that explicitly limit distribution. If
a message carries conflicting captions, the more
restrictive caption will be controlling and the cable will
not be loaded into the NCD database.

2c. (SBU) SIPDIS may be used in conjunction with NOFORN,
CODEL, SENSITIVE, TERREP, and TERREP EXCLUSIVE. Use of the
SIPDIS caption is highly encouraged in conjunction with
TAGs associated with topics requiring broad interagency
coordination [e.g., the Avian Flu TAG (KFLU)]. Cables
containing content not releasable to foreign nationals must
be marked NOFORN.


2d. (SBU) Posts remain responsible for the protection of
PrivacyAct (Public Law 93-570) information. Messages
containing Privacy Act information may not carry the SIPDIS
caption - e.g., MED CHANNEL, HR CHANNEL, DS CHANNEL, DSX
CHANNEL, and DS_BI CHANNEL.

HOW SIPDIS WORKS


3. (SBU) NCD web servers publish SIPDIS-captioned messages
to embassy and bureau classified homepages, as well as to
NCD's homepage, http://ncd.state.sgov.gov/. Your embassy's
classified web page administrator can add a cable portlet
to your embassy homepage that will automatically present
SIPDIS-captioned messages in a standard display.


4. (SBU) Current SIPDIS display options include reverse
chronology, subject files based on TAGs, Hot Topic files
based on Terms used by your post, and a full-text word

search capability. Examples of the current standard
display are available at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/rm/irpcip/.



5. (SBU) The vast majority of SIPDIS-captioned messages
are processed within minutes of transmission through the
cable system. If a SIPDIS cable sent from post does not
process in the system, there are a few common causes listed
below:

-- Posts are encouraged to follow the standard cable
template, which includes a single blank line between the
subject line and body text of the telegram.

--SIPDIS cables must have at least 1 TAG or they will not
be ingested into the system.

--The TAGS line must say "TAGS:" If this is missing then
the cable will not be ingested into the system.

--The Subject line must begin with "Subject:" If it just
says "SUBJ" or if the word "Subject" is missing entirely
then the cable will not be ingested into the system.

--DoD cables that are "Unclassified- Encrypted for
Transmission Only" are not currently compatible with the
system.

--If the SIPDIS caption is used on the same line as another
caption then the message will not be ingested.

--Additionally, any user at post who sends a SIPDIS message
that does not appear on the NCD or Embassy homepage should
contact SIPDIS_Help@state.sgov.gov.


6. (SBU) As a reminder, SIPDIS is a distribution caption,
not a TAG, and must be appended to the caption line of the
message. If SIPDIS is used in conjunction with another
distribution caption such as TERREP or CODEL, the SIPDIS
caption should be placed on a separate line below the
primary distribution caption. Post Information Management
Officers can add "SIPDIS" to post's locally managed
CableExpress or EACT application. No TERP-related action
is required to process SIPDIS messages.


7. (SBU) SIPDIS HELP

Current information and assistance on using the SIPDIS
caption cab be found by going to
http://www.state.sgov.gov/rm/irpcip/ on the classified
network and clicking on the link for SIPDIS or by emailing
SIPDIS_HELP@state.sgov.gov.


8. Minimize considered.
RICE