I know you have all been wondering just what you should do if you contact, or are contacted by, an extraterrestrial intelligence. Well, rest assured that minds greater than ours (that is to say, bureaucrats), have been considering the problem. Should ET beam a signal into your television, stroll through your backdoor, or land in your cow pasture, you will have guidance on how to behave. Things are a bit easier now than during the Apollo program: at that time federal regulations, (subsequently abolished), allowed the NASA Administrator to arrest and quarantine you as a potential threat to mankind due to "extraterrestrial contamination "

Several international organizations dealing with space matters have endorsed a "Declaration of Principles Concerning Activities Following Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence." There is also a shorter document called "Proposed Agreement on the Sending of Communications to Extraterrestrial Intelligence." These agreements are intended to establish common procedures among research organizations, they do not stand as treaties among nations.

Just about everyone agrees that confirmed discovery of an extraterrestrial life form, especially an intelligent life form, would be the most significant event in the modern history of mankind. The most likely scenario for extraterrestrial contact is by radio, the accidental detection by a radio telescope during a research project or one of the SETI searches of electromagnetic signals of non-natural origin. In such a case, the ETs would probably be quite distant from Earth For such a case, parties to the agreement should first try to confirm that the signal is indeed from an intelligent source rather than natural sources. In order to both speed and reinforce confirmation, prior to public announcement, the discoverer shall "promptly inform all other observers or research organizations." They are further constrained not to release anything to the public until they are reasonably certain of their findings. This protocol may try to deal with alien behavior, but seems to take little account of human behavior. Someone is sure to blab to the press.

But suppose that the discovery can be kept secret, and is confirmed. Then the discoverer has the right to make the first announcement to the public, after informing the official bodies. The International Telecommunication Union will also be informed so it can promulgate rules to protect the frequencies being received from ET. And what then? The agreement states that "No response to a signal... will be sent until appropriate international consultations have taken place." A companion agreement sets out some nice-sounding principles for when and how to make a return call to ET. It asks that the communications "be undertaken on behalf of all mankind, rather than specific nations, groups, or individuals."

The likely public response to such a discovery is not encouraging. Some years ago, I worked with the late Isaac Asimov as an advisor to a role-playing group of about 50 people who considered the topic. These scientifically literate laymen were told to believe that they had been convened in secret because "we" had confirmed evidence of an extraterrestrial intelligence. They were to examine the situation, decide if, when, and how to reply to the ETs, and if, when, and how to convey the information to the general public.

A schoolteacher wanted immediate answers to the cure for cancer, immortality, and an "Encyclopedia Galactica" without delay. A couple who were both ministers wanted to save their souls. A retired colonel wanted to shoot the ETs now and ask questions later; still another wanted to avoid contact (too late) or at least avoid physical contact to prevent an "Andromeda Strain" scenario. Some expressed doubt whether human institutions could stand the knowledge, and debated the impact on science, religion, nationalism and globalism. Others opted for full immediate disclosure, letting the chips fall where they may. Some thought the United Nations should be in charge, others believed only a responsible, democratic, freedom-loving nation (guess who!) should handle contact. In short, they came up with just about every opinion possible, just as the public will probably do if and when the real event happens.

The final article of the agreement says that "In the event that extraterrestrials appear to pose a threat... no nation shall act without consulting the Security Council of the United Nations," which will undoubtedly deal with the matter as effectively as it dealt with Bosnia and Somalia!

Perhaps all this planning is for naught. Perhaps we are alone in the universe, or perhaps they do exist, have already found us, and are keeping quiet about it. Any ETs we discover or who discover usÑwill be more advanced technologically than we are. After all, why should any really intelligent life form want to contact us?