diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/communications.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/communications.dm
index b8b037c33381..c245b1012900 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/communications.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/communications.dm
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ Frequency range: 1200 to 1600
 Radiochat range: 1441 to 1489 (most devices refuse to be tune to other frequency, even during mapmaking)
 */
 
+#define UNIVERSAL_FREQ 1
+
 #define MIN_FREE_FREQ 1201 // -------------------------------------------------
 
 //Misc channels
@@ -327,11 +329,11 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(radio)
 	if(length(extra_zs))
 		target_zs += extra_zs
 	for(var/obj/structure/machinery/telecomms/T as anything in tcomm_machines_ground)
-		if(!length(T.freq_listening) || (frequency in T.freq_listening))
+		if((UNIVERSAL_FREQ in T.freq_listening) || (frequency in T.freq_listening))
 			target_zs += SSmapping.levels_by_trait(ZTRAIT_GROUND)
 			break
 	for(var/obj/structure/machinery/telecomms/T as anything in tcomm_machines_almayer)
-		if(!length(T.freq_listening) || (frequency in T.freq_listening))
+		if((UNIVERSAL_FREQ in T.freq_listening) || (frequency in T.freq_listening))
 			target_zs += SSmapping.levels_by_trait(ZTRAIT_MARINE_MAIN_SHIP)
 			target_zs += SSmapping.levels_by_trait(ZTRAIT_RESERVED)
 			break
diff --git a/code/game/machinery/telecomms/presets.dm b/code/game/machinery/telecomms/presets.dm
index 7a9f5babbd7a..459eddc4a544 100644
--- a/code/game/machinery/telecomms/presets.dm
+++ b/code/game/machinery/telecomms/presets.dm
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@
 	toggle_state(user) // just flip dat switch
 
 /obj/structure/machinery/telecomms/relay/preset/tower/all
-	freq_listening = list()
+	freq_listening = list(UNIVERSAL_FREQ)
 
 /obj/structure/machinery/telecomms/relay/preset/tower/faction
 	name = "UPP telecommunications relay"
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(all_static_telecomms_towers)
 			return
 		var/choice = tgui_input_list(user, "What do you wish to do?", "TC-3T comms tower", list("Wipe communication frequencies", "Add your faction's frequencies"))
 		if(choice == "Wipe communication frequencies")
-			freq_listening = null
+			freq_listening.Cut()
 			to_chat(user, SPAN_NOTICE("You wipe the preexisting frequencies from \the [src]."))
 			return
 		else if(choice == "Add your faction's frequencies")
diff --git a/code/game/machinery/telecomms/telecomunications.dm b/code/game/machinery/telecomms/telecomunications.dm
index 8b8b12dfd170..7652ac601f56 100644
--- a/code/game/machinery/telecomms/telecomunications.dm
+++ b/code/game/machinery/telecomms/telecomunications.dm
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY_TYPED(telecomms_list, /obj/structure/machinery/telecomms)
 	var/traffic = 0 // value increases as traffic increases
 	var/netspeed = 5 // how much traffic to lose per tick (50 gigabytes/second * netspeed)
 	var/list/autolinkers = list() // list of text/number values to link with
-	var/list/freq_listening = list() // list of frequencies to tune into: if none, will listen to all
+	var/list/freq_listening = list(UNIVERSAL_FREQ) // list of frequencies to tune into: if universal frequency is included, will listen to all
 	var/machinetype = 0 // just a hacky way of preventing alike machines from pairing
 	var/delay = 10 // how many process() ticks to delay per heat
 	var/long_range_link = 0 // Can you link it across Z levels or on the otherside of the map? (Relay & Hub)