The Drake Equation: The fc Term fc: The fraction of intelligent lifeforms that achieve the ability and desire to communicate. Having the ability to communicate does not necessarily mean that a civilisation will do so. When a signal was transmitted from the Arecibo Telescope in 1974, some scientists were worried that alerting others to the fact that here was a planet suitable for the existence of life might be very unwise! If we ever detected a signal from another civilisation there would be a strict protocol to be observed and a global consensus would have to be reached before any reply might be sent. Even if a civilisation had the will to transmit, to do so requires major cost, both to build suitable antennas and powerful transmitters and then to fund their running costs over centuries. Our own civilisation is capable of communicating but, as yet, is not doing so. We would not be helping to increase the value of this factor of the Drake Equation as evaluated elsewhere in the Galaxy! Perhaps a value of between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 might be realistic for this factor.