§195 — Title 6 Domestic Security | U.S. Code

Summary

Lead federal efforts to make emergency communications work together and be more reliable. The Director must help the Secretary with the science and technology parts of the program in section 194(a)(1)(D)–(G). The Director must work with the FCC, NIST, and other standards agencies to support national voluntary consensus standards. They must run research, testing, and evaluation programs; set rules for public safety radio and data equipment bought with DHS homeland security aid (equipment must be nonproprietary when standards exist, except for any alert and warning device, technology, or system); carry out SAFECOM research and standards duties; test new technology in real situations; promote efficient use of existing gear; work with private industry; and run pilot projects (including data and video) to help responders and officials keep communicating during natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters and to improve interoperability. The Director must coordinate with the Director for Emergency Communications on SAFECOM. The Secretary must provide the Office the staff and resources needed to do this work.

Title 6, §195

Domestic Security — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Director of the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility shall—

(1)assist the Secretary in developing and implementing the science and technology aspects of the program described in subparagraphs (D), (E), (F), and (G) of section 194(a)(1) of this title;

(2)in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and other Federal departments and agencies with responsibility for standards, support the creation of national voluntary consensus standards for interoperable emergency communications;

(3)establish a comprehensive research, development, testing, and evaluation program for improving interoperable emergency communications;

(4)establish, in coordination with the Director for Emergency Communications,11 See Change of Name note below. requirements for interoperable emergency communications capabilities, which shall be nonproprietary where standards for such capabilities exist, for all public safety radio and data communications systems and equipment purchased using homeland security assistance administered by the Department, excluding any alert and warning device, technology, or system;

(5)carry out the Department’s responsibilities and authorities relating to research, development, testing, evaluation, or standards-related elements of the SAFECOM Program;

(6)evaluate and assess new technology in real-world environments to achieve interoperable emergency communications capabilities;

(7)encourage more efficient use of existing resources, including equipment, to achieve interoperable emergency communications capabilities;

(8)test public safety communications systems that are less prone to failure, support new nonvoice services, use spectrum more efficiently, and cost less than existing systems;

(9)coordinate with the private sector to develop solutions to improve emergency communications capabilities and achieve interoperable emergency communications capabilities; and

(10)conduct pilot projects, in coordination with the Director for Emergency Communications,1 to test and demonstrate technologies, including data and video, that enhance—

(A)the ability of emergency response providers and relevant government officials to continue to communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; and

(B)interoperable emergency communications capabilities.

(b)The Director of the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility shall coordinate with the Director for Emergency Communications 1 with respect to the SAFECOM program.

(c)The Secretary shall provide the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility the resources and staff necessary to carry out the responsibilities under this section.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Reference to Director for Emergency Communications deemed to be a reference to Assistant Director for Emergency Communications, see section 2(c)(2) of Pub. L. 115–278, set out as a note under section 571 of this title.

§195 Office for Interoperability and Compatibility

Summary

Title 6, §195

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Citations & Metadata