Signal verification in the real world: When is a signal not a signal?

The confirmed reception of an ETI signal would be very important to the entire Earth and is, consequently, an issue about which emotions run high. The elusive ETI signal is likely to be at the very edge of detectability and its very existence may be doubtful. The procedure for verifying the reality of our first ETI signal is of central importance. Public announcements which later turn out to be false alarms should be avoided. To help inject a healthy skepticism into our work, I propose that the following three principles should be adhered to by all ETI searchers who use real time data: 1. 1. Be skeptical! Verification must involve outside scientific peer review and independent confirmation by a second telescope. 2. 2. Show restraint! Public announcements should be made only after the signal is verified to be of extraterrestrial origin. 3. 3. Plan ahead! A procedure for rapid verification of ETI signals and dissemination of ETI data through normal scientific channels should be established before searching begins.